we would have the same vantage points for directional purposes. We decided to start on the Sports Deck and move our way down. Certain we’d be able to finish our tour before the muster bell, we hit each deck to make sure we understood the ships map and then stopped for a drink at the tropical bar on the Lido deck near the big swimming pool. There were a few young women in the pool already in their bikinis. We watched them some because they were really quite lovely.
Walking the Promenade deck had become one of my favorite things to do in the mornings. For some strange reason the smell and pull of the ocean was stronger there. We lingered longer than we should. Not hearing the muster call, we went to get a bite to eat in the Horizon dinning room. We sat there enjoying our surroundings and watching other travelers.
“What happened to the muster bell?” Denice asked without really needing an answer. She knew I hadn’t heard the call or I’d have said something.
We headed back to the stateroom after grabbing a couple of over-sized cookies to take with us for later. The cookies were gone before we even got to the Aloha deck. Denice just grinned and shrugged.
“I’m surprised that you haven’t invited anyone back to our room yet.” I mentioned to her.
“Give me time, would ya, we’ve only been on board for a few hours.” She replied.
Back in the room we found the cruise ‘newsletter’ waiting for us. We sat on our respective beds and read about the activities available. Denice took her highlighter and marked the activities that she was interested in and I did the same. Then we compared the newsletters to see if our interests were the same. Denice was disappointed because I only had one activity marked and it didn’t match any of her preferences.
She said that her first event was coming up in about an hour. She planned on taking the ‘line dance’ class. She probably chose line dance because I used to line dance a lot but, after a few years I got depressed that I didn’t have a partner and quit going. Don’t get me wrong, I have my own unique style that people enjoy so I got my share of what I called ‘pity dance requests’ when our group had parties. It was nice for awhile.
Denice said her intent was to relearn the ‘Tush-Push’ that I taught her a number of years ago.
“I’m going to want a demonstration when you get back.” I told her.
We sat together just talking about anything that popped in our heads for the next hour and then she took off with a promise to see me in 2 hours. I reached for my beach towel and headed for the balcony. I stood at the rail taking in the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean, appreciating the wind from the ship’s cruising speed of 19 knots; the sun would be setting in a few hours. ‘Wow, it always amazes me.’ It is, in my estimation, the most perfect place to be.
The sun was warm, maybe too warm for me. I needed more sun screen or to get in the shade. Soon I was comfortable on one of the lounge chairs with Michael Creighton’s words propped up on my knees. I really wasn’t ready to take the surrounding beauty for granted and found that the book held no interest for me.
I listened to my new CD – “Crazy Love.” I couldn’t read while listening to “Cry Me a River.” That voice was lovely, smooth and inviting. As usual I began to sing along. Good for me, relaxing for me, soul feeding for me; but, I was certain that others shouldn’t listen. I was always pitchy and had to turn the CD player up very loud in order to match the right tune with the singer.
“Now you say you’re lonely, you cried the whole night through. Well you can cry me a river; I cried a river over you.”
I was sounding unbelievably good at that volume. Actually believing that the expanse of the ocean would carry away the excess sound, my voice increased a couple of decibels trying to get the tune right. I sang the entire song with the joy I felt. Before the next tune I sat back to see if folks were yelling at me to shut up. Not the case, so I continued to sing my heart out.
When the CD was finished, I stretched and made my way to the rail. As I stretched, I saw a dark structure far out in the ocean, kind of sitting on the horizon line. I wondered what it was and how long would it take for the ship to reach it. I decided to sit out there until we reached the black monolith, well at least until dinner time. We had a late seating for dinner – 8 o’clock.
The phone rang and my sister was on the other end telling me that she was going to dinner with a group of people she met line dancing. Great, I thought, I’d call room service and not bother to go out at all. It was pretty difficult to tear myself away from the balcony even for a little while. I made the first of many calls to room service and placed my dinner order. Going for my book again; again, it had no draw for me. Another CD perhaps?
Los Lonely Boys was my next pick. Parts of the songs were in Spanish; I was embarrassed about my Spanish pronunciation, even in song, but that didn’t stop me from joining the group when I did know the words.
When dinner came, I tipped the waiter after he set up the meal on the balcony. Before he left I asked him about the black thing on the horizon. He shrugged as though he didn’t understand me. I smiled politely and looked at the food. He left without giving me any enlightening information about the dark in the distance. Oh well the mystery would be solved soon enough…patience.
As I took in the yummy food, I could hear others out enjoying their balcony experience, too.
I interrupted the Los Lonely Boys music and put another CD in the player and forced myself to just listen in order not to sing with my mouth full. I lowered the volume in deference to those around me within ear shot. I heard a voice from the balcony next to mine, I think, because the voice sounded pretty close.
“Crank it back up if you don’t mind.”
I didn’t look; I just turned it back up, glad that others might like hearing it, too. I finished the prime rib and put a small dent in the baked potato. After a few bites I was satisfied and started in on the jello. My sister was surprised and befuddled that with all of the rich and yummy desserts available I nearly always preferred jello. Jello feels like a good way to cleanse my pallet. I had ordered pasta and a small salad but they remained untouched.
After the table was cleared, the dirty dishes were left on a tray in the hall, keeping the uneaten pasta and salad just incase my sister was interested later. With everything neat again, I could focus on the horizon to see that the black was much closer but I still couldn’t figure out what it was precisely, or otherwise.
Fifteen minutes at the rail standing like a statue made me thirsty. Time to toast the day and the trip – I poured myself two fingers of scotch and added 3 cubes of ice. I held the glass high as I walked back to the rail to toast the ocean, my balcony, and the trip.
“Cheers, thanks a lot, eh.” The instant burn from the scotch was expected and after the first sip, I waited for the second burn, I wasn’t disappointed.
“That’s good stuff.” I heard myself say right out loud.
Next was my after dinner ‘bowl.’ I went through the little ritual of grinding the buds in my ‘Mendo Mulcher’ and packing a small pipe with the fluffy grindings. I sat quietly for a couple of minutes then looked around at other balconies to ascertain if I had unwanted company. All was quiet so I decided to spark it up.
Just at that moment a gust of wind hit me. It was hard and kind of wet and stingy. As my focus was entirely on lighting the pipe, I just cupped my hands and moved back into the alee of the balcony for protection. Then I took a huge hit off the pipe.
It was time for more music. I switched out the CD that was in the player with a Paul Gross compilation called “Two Houses.” It took me a very long time to acquire that CD. That was another Canadian. Paul doesn’t have the greatest voice in the world but I love the songs he’s written, full of humor and passion – a great combination.
I heard that same voice again. “Ah, maybe you could share?”
I froze and then I said “ok, sure” and walked to the side of my balcony and handed my pipe and lighter through the crack in the partition between the two balconies to the