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CRUISE AND A NEW NAME
LAST THOUGHTS ON MY CRUISE

I’m off the cruise ship and back to reality. We just returned from a Royal Caribbean cruise aboard the Mariner of the Seas leaving out of Galveston, Texas. My thoughts and observations follow. Enjoy and pretend you were there with me as I relive the highlights.

CRUISE AND MINDFULNESS

Being mindful by listening to the sounds and sights around me occupied more of my time than usual. Even though I took my computer, a compulsive habit, I never opened it. Lying on a beach chair, not even picking up a book, I listened to the waves, the voices, felt the sun on my face, and breathed evenly. From our cabin balcony, I marveled at the clouds and the ocean’s vastness. Incredibly, at one point, I saw two other cruise ships in the middle of nowhere. (Note to self: time to buy cruise ship stock?)

More importantly, I took a news break, for the most part. No newspapers, no internet headlines, nada, zilch.

CRUISE AND DIVERSITY

My mind was agog when I saw the passenger makeup. White, Hispanic, Asian, and African American groups were abundant. My grandson commented on the diversity present. While I focused on the diversity of the passengers, he focused on the crew. (After all, he has grown up in Houston in a highly diverse area so seeing so many people of color as passengers did not surprise him.)

We talked about why there appeared not to be any Americans on the crew. The answer became obvious. Turns out, according to our waiter, he works seven months on—three months off. We came into port on Saturday morning and the ship was departing that afternoon with a whole new set of passengers. No day off for them to leave the vessel. The waiters who worked the evening shift also worked the morning shift.

CRUISE AND SHOES

The variety of shoes fascinated me. The ubiquitous crocs and sandals were everywhere, even a pair of red-checked Vans. Then, there was my introduction to the Yeezy slides—regular, platform, and foam runners. Who knew?

My favorites were the turkey leg slippers. From our vantage point in the highest bar, I watched a father teaching his three children, all in brown and white foot apparel, to line dance on the deck below. My heart surged with pure joy. What fun they were having!

CRUISE AND TATTOOS

Having grown up in an age where the only people to have tattoos were sailors and motorcycle gang members, the proliferation of body decoration these days baffles me. A middle-aged woman with a skull on her arm? In full color? At least the art kept me entertained.

CRUISE AND BOOZE

Mai Tai, Bloody Mary, and Chocolate Martini, oh my! Unfortunately, one of my grandsons challenged me about how many drinks I had during the day. Ladies don’t tell their age or how much they drank so you’ll never know.

CRUISE AND A NEW NAME

You know you’re getting old when the men helping with the excursions call you “Momma.” I asked for assistance climbing in and out of the jungle raft boat, getting back up on the raft after having jumped into the lagoon, and a few other times. I blew out my good knee a week before the cruise and, thanks to acupuncture and a big cortisone shot, was able to perform all the activities, but I didn’t want to take any chances. Also, as I age, my balance is not what it used to be and I’m sure the alcoholic drinks did not help the situation.

And yes, climbing out of the water on the Cozumel beach a small wave shoved me into the sand and my son-in-law had to help me up. But I’m alive and kicking and not ready to retreat just yet.

LAST THOUGHTS ON MY CRUISE

The best part of the cruise was the time spent with my family, talking, sharing, and getting to know each other in depth. But I won’t wait for another cruise to have this opportunity again.