Vacation.Cruise1

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Greetings, all! I’ve been aboard the Carnival Freedom since Saturday, April 26. We just hit our first port-of-call this morning, Sint Maarten Island. The trip is going wonderfully! I love cruising! Most of the people on the ship are either couples or significantly older than me. For the most part, the general reaction upon hearing that I’m taking 1. my first cruise; 2. a 14 day transatlantic cruise to Europe; 3. and I’m doing all this alone; is generally, “wow…that’s really wild. It’s the first cruise that you’ve ever taken, and you’re taking a 14 day…alone?!” I guess after the 5th or 6th person saying this, I’m finally getting the hint.

Being among couples and older folks – more than a few crotchety, line-cutting, complaining, and puffy older folks – makes for more of a solitary experience, but that's not all bad. I'm having some good, daily, time with God, which was part of my goals. Also, meeting a few people who are nice, calm, normal…like me ;-) Good thing that I enjoy myself...because I'm having a lot of Michael Time...God help us. Of course, I'm (unsettling naturally) finding all manner of ways to "work the cruise" and find good deals, unintentional bargains, and even a little spending money. It’s becoming a daily ritual to collect food to take back to the room and store in the fridge for lunch at the ports, rather than eating food on the island. I always enjoy a picnic on the beach more anyway. Likewise, I take a daily walk through the casinos to see which slot machines have been "abandoned" with credit still on the machine. After waiting at least 30 seconds for someone to return...an eternity, I assure you...I cash out and take the bucket of quarters to the cashier to exchange into dollars. So far, its turned into about $40. In the Carnival Spa they charge more than a full set of dentures to whiten your teeth…but they also give away seemingly unlimited samples. So, if I use one free sample a day, that equals the same as a full treatment…and I’ll just pay myself! Hey, I've got to entertain myself some way?!

The food is beyond description. Y’don’t find this stuff at the Grocery Clearance Center, for sure. To counteract the sheer volume of available food, I’m taking the 11 flights of stairs everywhere I go – my room is on one end of the ship and the restaurant on the other end. Likewise, they’ve got a great gym on board where I’m going every morning. Found out that a coffee pot on board the ship is contraband…so, of course, I’m using it surreptitiously, storing in my suitcase under the bed, locking the Starbucks coffee in the in-room safe…appropriately…and sneaking the grounds out by cover of night. Seems like a lot of work, but the coffee on the ship is the “F” word…Folgers >:-(

There are some fantastic shows at night: comedians, a ventriloquist tonight, some awesome dancers, singers, and a full orchestra. There are movies available, an open sushi bar, about 324545 pools and hot tubs, an outdoor movie screen, a waterslide, free helicopter rides to India…just checking to see if you’re still with me J

So, I’m just taking a few minutes to clean out my email box, upload some pictures and narrative to my blog. Here are a couple of fun links for you:

My Blog - http://www.michaelspain.blogspot.com/

Carnival Freedom Webcam/Global Position - http://www.seascanner.com/schiffsposition.php?schiff=Carnival+Freedom

OK, back to shopping and then to the ship. Hope they don't leave me. We're back to sea tonight and will be in the open water for 5 days/6 nights. Next stop, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal. Love to all!

Michael

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Love Creates Love

The more you love, the more love you are given to love with.

~ Lucien Price

With love comes promises of sentiment as rapturous as fall's splendor of color and as delicate as a crystal of snow. Love empowers us to handle the struggles that bind us, the struggles that stretch us to grow. The familiar sights and muffled sounds of each moment vibrate with greater intensity when we're giving and receiving love.

We're deluded to think the love of others will complete us, so we strive for it; we long for it. But we receive love only when we're unselfishly offering it. It is one of life's wonderful mysteries that we must first give love away if we hope to get it.

Loving another tests our patience, strength, and security. Love spurned is dreaded and perhaps too familiar, but we must risk it once again if we are to find the love we deserve.

To Be Loved...Love

If you would be loved, love and be lovable.
~ Benjamin Franklin

We all desire to be loved. Our common human characteristic is our need to count in someone else's life. At least one other person needs us, we tell ourselves, when we feel least able to accept life's demands. How alike we all are. The paradox is that our own need for love is lessened when we bestow it on others. Give it away and it returns. A promise, one we can trust.

The reality about love and its path from sender to receiver and back again is often distant from our minds. More often we stew and become obsessed with the lack of love's evidence in our lives. Why isn't he smiling? Why didn't she care? Has someone more interesting taken our place? Choosing to offer love, rather than to look for it, will influence every experience we have. Life will feel gentler, and the rewards will be many and far reaching.

Loving others promises me the love I desire. But I can't expect it if I don't give it first.