We just returned from a 5 day cruise to Cozumel and Nausau. This was a trip for just the 2 of us, a change of pace and scenery during the winter months when the streets here are crowded with cars and the restaurants crowded with people who have come down from the colder states to enjoy the warmth and sunshine of Florida. It brought me back to when we were first married and we would take driving trips throughout New England. We would enjoy the time together, laughing, exploring, and having a great time…..just the two of us. The difference between then and now is of course our age….and our lives…filled with the trials of life and also the happiness of life. We purposely chose not to get the internet package so that while we were at sea we were incognito. The texts couldn’t come through and the phone couldn’t ring. It was heaven to have that peace for a while….even if it was just for 5 days.
Anyone who has cruised knows how absolutely delightful the staff on the ship can be. They are always friendly. They are thrilled that people want to be on their ship because this is their livlihood. We chatted with some of them and got to know their stories. They live on the ships for 9 months at a time and work 10 hour days….every day. It is not an easy living but they are always happy to do anything they can to help make the guests happy. And they remember little nuances of their guests, especially the waiters, who magically bring extra condiments, etc. after just being asked for them once. t was a relaxing time and by the 3rd day we were feeling tensions fade away. It has made me realize that we need to make sure to spend more time doing what we want to do and when we want to do it, together. Life is short and getting shorter by the day. It made me realize that we can’t always feel that we need to be available for our family should they need something, anything. As we had to when we were young, they need to learn how to figure out their own lives. It is time for us. I can only hope that they will be there for each other if the need arises but for me I need to keep lifes stressors….floating way.
