Alaska Bound

I'm off to Alaska on a cruise - and I"m ready for the rest. This will be my 4th cruise to Alaska and already, in anticipation of this trip, I am experiencing flashes of memory from the other trips. Like my first trip, stepping out onto the balcony of the suite around 10:00 pm and being amazed as I looked toward the bow of the ship and watched the fog rolling in on itself like a giant roll of cotton candy, slowing enveloping the ship....and us, with it! It was an incredible sight; nothing I had ever seen before. That memory is right up there with the one and only time I saw a moonbow - a rainbow of pearly white light across the sky as the full moon reflects off moisture in the air - as I was returning from my trip to the summit of Mauna Kea. Amazing!

I look forward to boarding the ship and finding my stateroom. To settling in. To wandering the halls of the ship, checking out the paintings and other 'objets d'art' that line the walkways. Finding the casino ( remember that I won $900 on my first cruise and that was FUN! ) picking out the $1 slot for my next visit. :)

Three books in my bag, two of which are the story of the last Queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii - one written by her and one written about her. These really call to me...feel important to me...to digest.

My plans are...no plans! Sleeping in, maybe having breakfast on the balcony on my first awakeing. Reading. Walking the decks for my 'daily constitutional'. Spending time with my family; getting to know my step-daughters. Maybe journaling when the spirit moves me (as I'm sure it will since it always does).

Whale watching in Juneau. Walking tour in Ketchikan. Cruising in Glacier Bay and through the fjord. And shopping! Surely, there must be things that I absolutely cannot live without! The trick will be to find something weird enough for my sons and elegant enough for my mother.

I am ready to take this time for myself. I am blessed to know that I can go to Alaska, trusting that my parents are in good hands and in the loving care of my sons, Sheila and Koreen. I could not do this without all of them.

And so, I've learned - I don't have to do it alone. And because of that, I am Alaska bound!

Breathing is good....and I'll be back August 20th.

Aloha!