At Sea, August 9, 2023

We turned the clocks back last night….again….but this time we turned them back an hour and a half. Yep! So I’m awake at 5:30am. I don’t even know what time it is in Florida, Ohio or Mississippi. As you know, we were in Canada yesterday and the BIG BENEFIT was that our phones worked. So I talked to Anna and Aunt Vickie yesterday. Anna is in Chicago with Jeff. She was at the Navy pier when I spoke with her. So good to actually hear her voice. Then I talked to Aunt Vickie and learned that Sophie is leaving for college this week.

Sophie, if you get to read this, just know that Roscoe and I wish you well. I don’t remember much about going to college but I do remember enjoying the freedom and that feeling of making my own decisions ( some good….some not so good☺️). But just remember that this is the continuation of you becoming you. I know you will thrive and do well! Grandmother and Granddaddy will miss you.

So I’m sitting in the International cafe having coffee and reading the news. I’m very happy about the Ohio vote yesterday! It gives me hope. It tells me that when you try to make it more difficult for the masses to speak; they will stop you if they can.

My next thoughts were about the staff on the ship. Every person/ employee on this boat is very kind and helpful. I watch them work and am just astounded. They are always smiling and seem genuinely pleased to help you. Maybe a 107 day cruise gives them an opportunity to know the guests. It seems to me it would be very difficult to have to work day in and day out while everyone around you is on vacation. I also notice how polite the guests are. Everyone seems to be kind and willing to wait their turn. We try to learn names, we say please and thank you and try not to be too demanding.

Alvin works in the International cafe in the morning. He gets me my yogurt and Sammy or Don or others make my coffee. Alvin gets to go home in about a month. He’s getting off in Lima and he’s very excited. He’s from the 🇵🇭 Philippines, as are most of the workers. Although there are many nationalities here.

Continued….it’s the next morning at 6am. I didn’t post yesterday, obviously! Roscoe and I had dinner with a very nice couple from Tucson; Stan and Jacquelyn. He’s an architect and she’s a physiotherapist/ acupuncturist. We met by sharing a lunch table awhile back. It happened to be their anniversary. They’ve been married 24 years ( Babies). I told someone yesterday that when Americans meet Americans, the first thing now after finding out where they’re from, is skirting around politics to find out where they stand! If you’re in the same tribe, then conversation goes forward. That’s so sad, but it’s the way it is! They had wonderful stories about how they got to this place in their lives. It was nice to have dinner with someone different. Well, it’s 6am and we will be in Quebec in 3 hours. We’re staying until 10pm tonight, so after our 4 hour tour, we will have lots of time to explore on our own! It was supposed to be raining but right now it’s not.🤞

Have a good day friends. Pictures of Quebec ( which is Algonquin for “where the river narrows”) and pronounced Kebec, will be forthcoming.

Dan, our waiter last Sunday.He’s hilarious, he actually twirls! And gives hugs all around!

Sophie and Grandmother. Off to Iowa State!

Ketut! He makes my bed and cleans my room. He is from 🇮🇩 Indonesia. And yes, John, he gets extra tips! Yesterday he found an earring that I had lost! He’s so thorough I had to hide a coffee cup from him so that I have one to use at night! I will miss them when we’re gone!

Another happy Australian!

My wall is getting bigger! 21 magnets, and growing.

Ronie and Alvin.

Don, making my coffee. He’s filling up two blue mugs for me to take back to our cabin.