THIS REALLY IS THE 21ST

April 21, 2019


My phone has been screwy with date changes this time.  I told you earlier that a blog from a certain date was not that date and I reset my phone.  Last night I realized that the blog was not from the date announced and I reset my phone.  Tonight it is the right date.

At lunch (we had pizza and Mom also had a salad) we sat with a couple from Florida, Joe and Rebecca.  We exchanged names, places of residence, sizes of family, etc.  We talked about the lack of Easter services on board, and then Rebecca went into some detail about their family. They have 8 grandchildren, one who is in heaven.  She was born with a severe heart defect and they enjoyed her for two and a half months.  Then she got choked up and apologized.  I told her not to apologize, we understand, and I told her Thomas was with us for 9 precious days.  And then I got choked up.  When I could talk again I said, “That is why this day is so important.  Because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we will see those grand babies again, and all who have died in the Lord.”  And I got choked up again.  Not the Easter celebration I may have had in mind, but a powerful one full of meaning.

Tomorrow we are ashore in Ponta del Gotta, a Portugese island which we have visited before.  The town with all of the shops, restaurants, and churches is close, and we will go exploring.  One time we were here we took a trip to the outskirts where we saw a volcanic caldron and some beautiful mountain lakes.  Tomorrow we will wander, looking for Gellato!

After tomorrow we have two more days at sea and then two Spanish cities we’ve visited before, Malaga and Cartagena, cities we enjoy exploring.  Then another day at sea and then Civitavecchia.  So three more talks wrapped around three sea days before we go to Rome.

Well, I am rambling so I will turn the keyboard over to Bonnie, and read while she types.

TTFN

Well, while waiting for him to finish his rambling , I finished crochet project #3. I am working on things to take to the May Market on May 4 at the church. This will be the first time I have ever attempted to sell my ware. It will be a strange collection of things I have been collecting  over the last few years. The sale is from 10 am to 2 pm, you are all welcome to come.

Today started at 6:30 am, after having gone to bed at 12:30 am.  Needless to say I was tired most of the day so much that I take a 2 hour nap. After getting ready we proceeded to Lido for breakfast. Today would not have been a good day for a sunrise service because we had only clouds and no sun. After breakfast and my newspaper I headed to the computer classroom for a class at 10. I arrived at about 8. I decided to take a walk on deck 8 before class. I walked a couple of times around. I shall really enjoy being outside in the air tomorrow even though the high is just to be 61 degrees. I shall wear my jacket.  After walking a bit I sat down to crochet as I waited for the class. The class was part 2 of making videos. It was interesting but I still doubt I will be able to do any of this. But we shall see.

After the class I headed to the theater for the EXC guys talk on Ponto Delgada. Not much. He talked about a lot of stuff but had no pictures to show you. Other EXC people I have heard have shown a lot more pictures. He has been doing these cruises for 13 years and I would have though he would have taken some pictures. He could have at least found some from the internet.

After the talk we went to the room to put our stuff up and headed to the Lido for lunch. My Asian salad was again good today. The pizza was passable. Nothing extra but it did have a good thin crust.

When I left the lido I headed for the room. I was going to start my nap. He was headed to the theater to hear Robin’s talk. He returned after the talk and joined me in napping. He got up before me and about 5 we headed for the dining room. The maitre’d knows us now and we don’t even have to tell him our room number. He has been very nice and we are getting tables in the back in the windows. That is great because I can watch the waves. One of the couples we had eaten with the first night and the second couple was from Utah. They had a son and a daughter who had both lived and worked in Russia. Very interesting. They told us that there was a brand new LDS cathedral opening just outside of Rome and since it hasn’t been dedicated yet we should try and visit while we are there. Don’t know if that will happen.

After supper it was to the theater for the variety show. The comedian and concert pianist were each doing a half hour performance. The comedian was first and he was absolutely hilarious!!  The pianist was second. She is a lovely young lady, has extremely long fingers and plays beautifully. It just isn’t my style of music. Tomorrow night we were to have a new performer who was to get on but due illness he will not be joining the ship. So instead they are showing the academy winning movie for best picture “Green Book”. When the cruise director announced this the people behind us went all a ga-ga. I never heard of this movie but it is supposed to be something great. We shall see. You can look it up on google and see what you think. I can not. So I will have to wait.

Well, this morning we sent out our first load of laundry. Not a lot but some socks, underwear, night clothes and t shirts and pants. Well, as usual they bleached my white underwear and now it is all a lovely shade of gray! They did this the last time we were on Holland. Oh well, no one can see it but me. However it is the new stuff I just bought this summer. Such is life on the cruise ship.

Well, I have to finish reading my British newspaper ( Holland prints a Canadian, a British and sometimes an Australian newspaper every day along with the NY Times). That is one nice thing about the Holland line I get to get a paper every day!! He is not much impressed but they do usually have the Pirates scores.

Hope everyone likes their bunny and enjoys your treats. Thanks to the Jack, Amy, Luke, Mac and Tate family for the Easter card you hid in our suitcase. I shall enjoy my Hershey bar and I think your Dad has already consumed his Reeses egg. Love you and looking for to land tomorrow.

Mom, Granny and Bonnie