What happens when you put two people and a couple that are celebrating 40 years on a ship together?? Sheer insanity. I’m glad Trey and I (the one’s NOT celebrating something ’40’) survived. 🙂 We didn’t take into account that this is the last week of freedom most college kids had before going back to school. I think that’s all I need to say about that. 😉
We celebrated the first night out on the balcony with a gorgeous sunset. As we set sail away from the Galveston pier I watched as the shoreline became just a minute speck in the distance. The winds were pretty high so our start to this voyage was pretty rocky. Literally. Thankfully none of us got sick and we managed to sit out and enjoy our first taste of peace and quiet. I watched as we passed many offshore rigs scattered throughout the waters. The waves were beating up against them but they remained steadfast. As we got further and further away the shoreline was no longer visible and all we had was the vast ocean. This is when I connected with the magnitude of God’s miraculous creation and how often have I felt like one of those rigs being beat up by waves of uncertainty and strife and by God’s grace and mercy I stay anchored in His love.
On the second day (Angela’s actual 40th birthday) she ran into my room upset. She had found her first gray hair in her eyebrow. Wah…I then looked in the mirror and found three grays on my head! And I’m still 2 years away…I thought maybe it was because I was hanging around a bunch of ‘old’ people?? 😉 I know, I know, age is relative. I mean, at least it will be when I AM 40! 🙂 A wonderful blessing we had on the cruise was sharing our dining experience nightly with Rockey Piazza and his wife Linda and her sister Phyllis. Rockey and Linda own Rocco’s Grill www.roccosgrill.com in Austin, Texas. These people were a joy to get to know and as each night took place we got to know each other well. 😉
The rest of the trip was simply RELAXING. This is one great aspect of cruises, you are forced to relax because you can’t use your cell phone and it costs a fortune to buy internet minutes to check emails. We went to two ports, Progreso and Cozumel, and while on the ship we forced ourselves to sit on the deck (I say forced…it was a bit chilly at times except for when we were at port) and do nothing.
Since I had so much time to ‘think’ I realized a few things:
1) I am not in my 20’s anymore…(duh)…I will say I am glad to be happily married and a mother of two awesome young men. I gathered a great deal of ‘thoughts’ about a few things I’ll write about in a book for young women in their 20’s & 30’s that I’ve been asked to consider writing. I’ll let it brew for now. 😉
2) My son would have a ton to say about all the food that goes to waste on a cruise ship.
3) My parents, even in their mid-60’s, will never cease to embarrass me. Scratch that…my DAD will never cease to embarrass me…
4) There is never an ugly sunset or sunrise. (Sunset on the 1st night and 3rd night)
5) That I will love to dance till the day I die (…because?…life’s a dance! :))
6) I don’t like to be alone. ( Are you shocked? Yes, this was an actual revelation for me!) I don’t even need to know the people because at some point if I can help it strangers are no longer strangers. 😉 And good friends are like Hershey syrup to vanilla ice cream – they make life better.
7) The quarters on the edge of the ‘quarter machine’ in a casino are taped down. I can almost swear it. Angela bet ‘big money’ with a whole $5.00 played at the quarter machine. We held our breath with each quarter just knowing all of that loot would have to fall! LOL …
8) Towel animals freak me out.
9) Despite the embarrassment my parents are pretty fun to be around. There will be stories that my dad will tell from now till he dies and I’m sure they’ll get bigger and grander as he ages but I’ll let him have this moment of grandeur in his old age. (ha! ha!)
10) Last but not least…I am blessed to have Neal as my husband. 🙂 Happy Birthday Neal!
Now that I’m rested I’m ready to head forward with full steam into 2012! This is my year to FOCUS and do what ever it is that God is asking of me to the best of my abilities. It’s going to be a great year!
Blessings
Shannon