Mo's meme

At least I think it's called a meme. I'm so lost at all this it's pathetic.

Well, even though Bee has written all about cruising the high seas, I've gotta admit that's what I think of first when I hear the word "cruise." Other thoughts are cruising for a hot date, drugs, and Tom.

But the "cruise" I like best by far is the kind that takes you out on the water! I don't know how to do photos yet, so I'll just have to describe what I like about cruises.

I ADORE the anticipation of an upcoming cruise! I get a cruise brochure and study it like I was going to take an exam. Except that's it's fun (for me). I study the floor plan until I have it just about memorized. I look to see where our cabin is and what's around us; what's overhead, what's below; how many decks down to the casino, etc. By the time I actually set foot on the ship, I know my way around pretty much. While I'm looking at this flat piece of paper with decks plans on it, I'm visualizing how it's actually going to look and feel. I imagine myself out on the balcony of our cabin having a morning cup of coffee and looking over the waves. Without a care in the world. No place I have to go; nothing I have to do. No phones, no agenda. My biggest decision is where to have our (second) breakfast. (The "starter" breakfast having already been delivered to our stateroom!)

I love buying new play clothes for the cruise, and this year we'll have to because we've both gotten TOO FAT to use our older play clothes! Well, we may be fat on our cruise, but we'll be dressed nicely. (Maybe we'll think about the wisdom of having that "first" breakfast and just stick to coffee and juice as a wake-up). Or not.

I get on the CruiseCritic boards and read every little thing fellow cruisers say about our particular ship or cruising in general. Sometimes we get a roll call going and I get to talk to different folks that are going to be traveling on the same cruise. That's fun and heightens the anticipation. Of course, I have a countdown clock to tell me exactly how many days, hours and minutes I have to the upcoming cruise. . .

Did I tell you about the packing lists I start a couple of months ahead. Actually, I haven't started one yet for our cruise in March, which is really unlike me. I guess this past year has subdued some of my enthusiasm.

The most magic moment for me - well, ok, there's a couple of "most magic" moments for me on a cruise - is when you finally get through all the paperwork, get your photo taken, wait in line, THEN THAT FANTASTIC MOMENT WHEN YOUR FOOT ACTUALLY STEPS ABOARD YOUR SHIP!!! My breath catches every time that happens. I'm FINALLY on the ship, about to head out to sea! Wow. Another magic moment is first setting eyes on your stateroom. Better yet is the moment when you realize the ship is moving and you're underway!

I love the water. It feels like I'm in paradise when I sit on a lounge chair on one of the upper decks gazing at the stars, hearing the waves hitting the sides of the ship, smelling the sea air, and having a beverage on hand and knowing that all this AND we've actually traveling someplace!! That's a whoo-hoo to me. It's romantic. Plain ole romantic to the max.

Flying used to be romantic and magical to me. Back when you were treated as a special guest, instead of being hearded like cattle. Cruising remains romantic and magical. Maybe if I cruised 10 times a year it might lose some of it's awesomeness, but even then I doubt it (and since I don't have the bucks to do that, I prolly am safe from finding out if it gets boring!)

Cruising to me is like the ultimate "ohmmmmm" of the soul. I'm with Bee all the way on this subject. Thanks for bringing it up, Mo!