I failed to mention in my last blog that we were back to being homeowners and not renters. In addition, we are pretty much free of debt. And now we are more financially solvent than we've ever been. All this due to blessings beyond our control.
Cathy and I were finally able to be together whilst upon the sea! I found a fantastic deal on a cruise that we literally could not dismiss if we were ever going to go on one.
The events leading up to our adventure began with finally getting passports. The day they came in, I "joked" that we need to go ahead and book a cruise. Deep down, I knew I wasn't joking. Ok, not so deep, since I immediately began looking for deals.
And a deal I found! It was a seven night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's enormously beautiful ship, Freedom of the Seas...for $798....for the BOTH of us! SEVEN NIGHTS!!!
I called Cathy from work to tell her what I found. She was somewhat taken aback after realizing I was serious.
"We can't pass this up, honey!", I told her.
"Well, it sounds good".
She really hadn't had time to digest everything. I, on the other hand, was excited because I knew this was "the one" and it was a "now-or-never" decision. And boy, was it!...
"So, when is it?" she asked.
"Well, see, the thing is, the reason it IS such a good deal, is...well, because we'll have to leave this Saturday."
"WHAT?"
"But, honey, it's with Royal Caribbean and it's one of their biggest, nicest ships!"
"Yeah, but..."
"I know it's soon, but this is a deal of a lifetime!"
"Yeah, but..."
"We can finally be together on the ocean...You can finally have that cruise you've always dreamed about!"
"Yeah, but...."
"And it's for the price of a four-night cruise!"
"Yeah, but..."
"But what?"
"That's TOO soon! I could never get ready by then! I'll have to shop, and...and I'll, uh, I have a doctor's appointment...and,...."
"Honey? A doctor's appointment? You would rather give up a dream vacation for a doctor's appointment? Can't you reschedule?"
"I guess, well, yes..I could. But see, there is so much I'll have to do to get ready.."
Well fortune smiled upon us by Loren, my step-daughter overhearing some of the conversation. I could hear in the background....
"Tom said he found a deal on a cruise", Cathy told Loren.
"Really? Where?"
Cathy to me, "Where?"
"St. Marteen, St. Thomas, and a Royal Caribbean island, Cocoa Cay".
I heard mumbling then, "What?!! That's the same cruise Brantley and I were on!!
After Cathy relayed to me what I and the rest of the town overheard, there was more mumbling, then, "You're kidding! Is that all? Momma, you gotta go! That IS a deal!
Well, I could recount the whole conversation, but the gist of it is, Cathy agreed thanks to Loren! The next thing I knew, they were headed out the door to go shopping. Two days later, we were driving to Cape Canaveral Florida!
I have to admit, a vacation could not have been any more perfect than this. It was one of those few times in life where it was obviously meant to be.
Everything went without a single hitch. I couldn't believe it. Everything from the drive, the hotel, parking, the cruise, the weather...Everything! There was not one bad day...nay, not one bad minute the whole vacation. It was wonderful.
When our ship arrived in St. Thomas, Cathy and I stood on deck to watch as we moored. She finally comprehended the want and desire I've had all these years which is to retire on a sailboat. Once she saw the view with all the boats anchored in the harbor, she was hooked as much as I.
