September 15, 2022

Reflection

AFTER THE CRUISE  

It's now a week and two days, May 7, 2007. after the cruise.

I wrote in a similar journal some of the moments, thoughts, feelings about the cruise I was on to the Panama Canal.

Even if I didn't write here or there about the cruise, people asked questions and expected answers: How was the cruise? Would you go again? Where did you go? What was the most interesting experience?

On the cruise different people from our group asked, "Is this going to be in a sermon?

On the cruise different people from our group would ask each other, "Well, how was the show last night?"  Or they would ask about a side trip, "Well, how was the trip to the ruins."

I suppose once we step out of the ordinary, life has its Q and A sessions.

And I guess the way to get in touch with the extraordinary, one must ask oneself, "Well how was it?"

So here are some answers:

The cruise was water - lots of water.

The cruise was people - lots of people.  I think the numbers were 1970 people on the cruise - plus 700 crew members. Then there were the people we saw when we were on land -tour guides, people selling stuff, sales people in stores, bus drivers, etc. etc. etc.

The cruise was food: the pick up meals on the Ledo Deck - tray in hand - going around and picking up what one liked - as well as the formal meals in the big dining rooms.

The cruise was diamonds, jewelry for sale on board and at each port.

The cruise was the Panama Canal - but we only went through one lock - so we didn't go to the other side and into the Pacific.

The cruise was elevators - people going up and down - all day long - instead of taking the carpeted stairs - which I preferred for the exercise..

The cruise was quiet moments on the balcony overlooking the Western Caribbean  - or chatting with Jack Flanagan.

The cruise is still cruising through my mind - still gliding across the waters of my mind.