AS HAN SOLO SAID

March 12, 2020

We are all fine here.  In these difficult times, that is a great thing.  And as I was reminded earlier tonight, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.  That sound mind includes a good dose of common sense, too.  It is an incredible thing to see all of the closings: NBA, NHL, March Madness, MLB season delayed, requests for schools to close, and President Trump’s orders regarding travel from the European Union (and the Democrats raising sand about it – you can never please some folks).

I read this afternoon that Princess Cruise lines has cancelled all sailings through May 1 with some smaller sailings allowed to continue and some already at sea likewise.  Our cruise director announced tonight that there is not a single reported case of corona virus in the Carnival Fleet.

After each show in the Phantom Theater – the main theater – the theater is closed and the crew does a complete sanitization, wiping surfaces that are touched by hands and applying a disinfectant spray.  We are not allowed to serve ourselves any food, the staff does it for us.  And other things, too.  Mom and I carry hand-sanitizer and use it, and there are stations all over the ship.

And another big announcement is that we are still cleared for docking in San Francisco.  In addition to good health that is our big prayer so we can be shuttled to the airport and catch our big bird home to Augusta.  As I often say, “Pray saints!”

Now on to other things.

I did my “potato” talk today to a full house in the Mat Hatter’s Ball.  One man who has been to all of my talks came up afterwards and made my head swell, and my arm is hurting from patting myself on the back to tell you.  He asked, “Do you have any dull, uninteresting talks?”  I certainly appreciated that.

We went to the Sea Day Brunch this morning, the first we’ve been able to do because of my schedule.  I really enjoyed my frittata, Mom her omelet not so much.  But we packed away so much that for lunch we only had chocolate soft-serve ice cream cones (and my cruise buddy did have a side of Guy’s French fries).  Follow our lunch we played two games of Rummy, yours truly winning both and now leading for the cruise 3-1.  Not getting cocky here because in January I had a similar big lead, but ended up down 4-5.

Tomorrow we are taking an excursion to Puerto Quetzal.  It is a city that is on the list of World Heritage Sites.  It is an hour and a half bus ride and 10,000 feet up a mountain for a three hour visit and an hour and a half bus ride back to the ship.  This is our first time in Guatemala, and we are looking forward to it.  The next stop is Cabo San Lucas and we are staying on board – it is a tender stop, and not the ship’s tenders, but local ships.  They are difficult for someone with two good legs, let alone Bonnie with her surgically repaired gams.  This time discretion will be the better part of valor.  And we can play more Rummy.

Well, she just asked, “Are you rewriting ‘War and Peace’?”  So I will turn the keyboard over to She Who Must Be Obeyed.

TTFN

Walking on this ship has been difficult to do. In the mornings it is so very hot that if I do my walk I feel sick from the heat. I have managed about 5 or 6 days of 10000 or more and the rest are 5000 to 7000. Oh well we will get in a good amount tomorrow.

But on the other hand I am making good progress on my crocheting projects that I brought along. I should get finished the first one in the next day or two. Yeah me.

I worry about you all, I know I am not supposed to, but I do. Please take care of yourselves. Lots of hand washing and do fist bumps not handshakes.

Not much going on here. His talks have been well received and they even like his jokes. Today I think he took a whole hour for his talk. 

Supper was okay. The best part was the appetizer of chicken wings. I could have had 2 or 3 orders of those. You only got two little half wings but they were tasty. I had key lime pie and you know I don’t know why people exclaim over it so much. It is only so-so. 

Well, we have to be up at dawns crack tomorrow. Our tour is the early one. Didn’t nap today but slept to 6 this morning. Hope to make it to then tomorrow.

Way to go MAC!! No crutches. Go get um but not too fast.

Love you all. Mom, Granny and Bonnie

P.S. Hey Karen hope you are all well. Thinking about you, too.