My Mind Overfloweth...

Anybody who has ever had to write, publish or do a simple thing like a blog will know what an undertaking it is. There is an URGE AND NEED TO BLOG! This afternoon my mind was blank about what, if anything, to write. However after dinner my mind is literally boggled, all in the matter of a few hours.

Things going through my mind that I could write about...

1. The dinner tonight, when we had a young female 'officer' join us at our table tonight which was a 'formal' night and to boot, the Captain's Dinner. Boy, to be that young and with the whole world ahead of you. So full of enthusiasm, and so much to learn about the real world out there.

2. The emotion at the table when somewhere during the latter part of the dinner, I put my hand on Fellette's hand, only to be whispered to by Chi, our Japanese table mate to my right, who lost her spouse some 18 years ago, when she softly said "Doug, my hand is also here." It was very touching to me inasmuch as that means to me that she feels at ease with us.

3. The lack of personality of the Captain of the ship. He is a very good bridge officer but seems to have the personality of a stump, he is Dutch. I have heard his voice every day at 1.00 PM. At that time he tells us the position of the ship, the sea temperature, our latitude and longitude and a few other sterile statements that could be done by a robot. Some more memorable captains are one who sang to us each morning, Italian, one who came on every day at noon and said, "It's me again". The least memorable was a Russian captain who had his mistress on board and drank too much vodka. At least this captain veered us away from the cyclone. [But so could a computer, and it probably was!]

4. The precious time that we had with Moe before dinner tonight in our small stateroom as the rest of the passengers were in the Queen's Lounge for the medal presentation and drinks.


5. The ceremony held tonight before dinner where people who had spent horrendous amounts of money cruising with Holland America over the years were presented with rather garish beribboned medallions that were in various metals: copper, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, titanium, and kryptonite depending upon how many days at sea you had spent, [bought] with Holland America. [Sorry folks, Doug is somewhat cynical tonight.]

6. Lastly, how grateful I am to be here and be able to write this meaningless drivel in reasonably good health. I am always aware of friends at home who are struggling with loss of family, friends or fighting courageous battles with cancer and other diseases, or looking after loved ones.

My gosh Doug, how could you be so negative when the dear Lord has been so good to us? I do not think that I will write about any of those aforementioned, but sit back and be grateful.

I think you know how I feel tonight.