Faith, Folklore, and Friends

You could stand on any cruise ship dock and know which people are just starting their cruise and the ones who have just finished.   The ones boarding are smiling, being patient, and high-fiving each other, celebrating when their time comes to board.  The ones disembarking are tired, grumpy, and wearily struggling with their too-full luggage. It is the stuff of life, that all good things have to come to an end.  This cruise was very enjoyable for Hub and me.  We are thankful that we were able to go, both physically and financially.  It couldn't have happened just a few years ago. We met some fantastic people and some who were slightly less than fantastic.  The food was excellent, as always, except for the green beans that are served almost raw.  After eight days of eating wonderfully rich foods that we are not accustomed to, we stopped at Cracker Barrel on the way home for some comforting cornbread and fresh veggies. I can't wait...

    Aruba is the last island we visited on this cruise.  It is part of the Southern Caribbean chain of the Lesser Antilles.  Like Curacao, it is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.       Sometimes, it felt more like Arizona than a Caribbean island. Because of the arid climate, there is no farming done and all their food has to be imported. The only grass I saw was at resorts; most people there can't afford to waste water on grass. The California Lighthouse, named after a shipwreck near the site.     Open bazaars selling items from China. The downtown area is modern with high-end shopping and casinos.   I wonder how many years it will be before I can hear "Aruba" without instantly thinking of Natalie Holloway.

Hub and I just returned from a cruise, and it was wonderful.  I love the sea: I think it calls me, which is odd for a woman who was raised on the highest ridge in Hardin County, Tennessee.  I didn't even see the ocean until I was in my early twenties.  We don't spend a lot of time at the beach because both of us have had multiple bouts with skin cancer, and we have to be really careful.   This ship, the Carnival Freedom , has a serenity deck where we could relax in the shade while still enjoying the sea breeze. This was our tenth cruise.  The first one was in 2001, when we traveled to Cozumel with first-born son and his family.  Since that time, we have learned lots of short-cuts about embarking and debarking, about what to do and not to do when we stop at different ports.     For years, Hub and I roamed the West, sleeping in tents and cheap motels.  Sometimes, we slept in our van in rest areas.  We have ...