But That’s OK

1/23/26

Here we are, the second full day at sea and it still hasn’t warmed up; but that’s ok.  This was one of the most jam-packed days so far.  In fact, I didn’t catch up on my blog for the previous day till almost noon.  Usually I’ve completed it by 7am; but that’s ok.   I was a little sore from my first ever Pilates class; but that’s OK.  And I didn’t get in my 10,000 steps as committed……and yes, that’s ok too.  The great thing about this stage of life is that it’s all ok.  A friend who I worked with for many years had an inspirational quote on her wall that said, It will all be OK in the end.  If it’s not OK, then it’s not the end.  How true!

With all the time changes, I committed to sleeping as late as possible, which was 6:30 am ship time (10:30 am where we live).  But then I realized, I had a fitness class at 7am, and so I hurried up there for……my first ever……….Yoga class.  I have to admit, I really liked it.  It was harder than I expected and my abs were a bit tender afterwards (it hurt to laugh, which we do a lot on this cruise), but I made it through.  That ran till about 7:40.  I stayed in the fitness center as Pilates started at 8am.  Given it was my second Pilates class ever, it was a bit easier as I knew what to expect.  But since it was right after Yoga, it was a bit harder; so net/net, it was about the same as yesterday.  It kicked my butt.  I then spent 1 hr on the treadmill because I didn’t want to risk not getting in my steps two days in a row.  AND THEN, I went to stretch class at 10.  I was both exhausted and exhilarated.  I’m not going to become a gym rat anytime soon but I did enjoy it.  Also, the class was about 70/30 women to men, which is a pretty decent ratio.

By now it’s almost 11am and I haven’t had breakfast.  So I grabbed my computer from the stateroom and headed to the buffet, where I made a new concoction….a grits bowl.  Actually a cream of wheat bowl but it’s really about the same unless you’re a diehard southerner.  My wonderful son-in-law makes the BEST Saturday morning breakfasts and one of my favorites is his grits bowls.  I love it and both grands absolutely devour it.  It’s really simple to make from various spots around the buffet.  Swiss cheese from over here, bacon and sausage from over there, scrambled eggs from right in the middle and you can even add some fried potatoes.  Then add the hot, steaming grits and let it steep like you would a cup of tea.  A quick stir and you’ve got a delicious grits bowl.  On land, that’s a lot of different elements to prepare, but on a ship at the buffet, it takes 3 minutes; 4 minutes if there’s a scooter in line.  Enough said.

Then I worked on my blog for the previous day.  Better late than never. Then the best news EVER.  As I was walking around the ship, I moseyed past the blackjack table where the minimums are down to $6.  You don’t understand.  Blackjack is my guilty pleasure, my sea day diversion, one of my favorite past-times.  On the first segment, the minimum was $15 and I’d resigned myself to not playing during the cruise.  But now, it’s back on the docket.  For me, it brings back so many wonderful memories of college and my early years of learning the casino games. 

In college, I was friends with Chuck, whose father was a high roller in Atlantic City.  Chuck started gambling around the same time he was weened off the pacifier, so he was accustomed to it.  For me, it was a whole new world.  In the early 80’s, his dad would occasionally send a limo to our college in eastern PA on a Friday night to bring us to Atlantic City, where we’d stay till Sunday morning.  He always had a penthouse suite at the Golden Nugget and in later years (late 80’s and early 90’s), the Trump Plaza.   Mr. W, Chuck’s dad, was a Jew and a Democrat.  He’d be rolling over in his grave if he knew then what we know now.  I just chuckled as I wrote that. 

Mr. W had a larger-than-life personality and yet, a pretty gruff exterior.  If he didn’t like you, you knew it.  He liked me as he thought I was a good influence on Chuck.  I also had a wicked, unfiltered sense of humor (still do, or so I hear), which Mr.  W really enjoyed.  He would give each of us $100 (a lot of money in the 80’s, especially for a college student) to gamble with.  If we lost it, we lost it.  But if we came out ahead, we would give him back his initial “investment” and ½ the winnings.  That was a great deal. 

Come to think of it, being at the hotel was a lot like being on a cruise: unlimited food and drink, a nice room, great service and even wonderful entertainment shows in the evening.  But I digress.  Mr. W would invite me into the Baccarat area (for the high rollers) and I’d sit next to him where he’d teach me the game.  He was a good teacher.  He not only focused on the mechanics and strategy but also the attitude.  He’d always say, “you can’t gamble with scared money”.  I still follow his teachings.

In 1984, spring semester, I did a study abroad in Spain.  When the program ended in May, it was about the same time Chuck’s family was in Monte Carlo at the Hotel D’ Paris, a perk of his high-stakes gambling.  So I took a train to Monaco, where I met them at the airport and spent about a week with them before I continued backpacking through Europe.  Including that time, I’ve been to Monte Carlo 3x.  It truly is a mecca for the rich and famous.  But at 21 years old, it was surreal. 

Here I am now at 62 and those memories are indelibly forged into my brain.  I sat down at the Blackjack table where there were already 2 players.  Got $100 in chips charged to the room (no fees, in case you’re wondering) and immediately was up with a blackjack.  I started playing 2 spots, which I enjoy.  About 2pm, I was up to $150 and cashed out at the dealer change.  I can’t tell you what a relief it is to know I’ll have one of my favorite diversions available to me throughout the cruise. 

I returned to the room to get ready for a Meet & Greet of those current passengers who were also on the WC23.   Upon arriving, our PC26 welcome gifts had arrived.  They gave us a PC26 canvas bag, 2 PC26 umbrellas and a few other small, branded items.  These little gifts were given to everyone who's on the cruise for the next 114 days.  We also had time to fit in a facetime with our daughter and granddaughter.  Speaking with them is the only time I get homesick.

Then we headed to the Explorer’s Lounge for the M&G.  I was surprised how many faces I didn’t recognize.  But there were about a dozen I did and we reminisced.  My wife and I wore a matching outfit we got on WC23 in Sri Lanka.  It’s fun and this crowd knew exactly where we got it.  It was also the first formal night of this segment, so that worked out well to wear those outfits.  This pic is from 2023, but trust me, we haven't changed a bit 😉.

After the M&G, we headed to the wheelhouse bar for hor’dourves before heading to dinner.   I had sea bass with a side of salmon over a lemon potato puree.  It was outstanding.  And reasonably healthy.  Since I’d skipped lunch, I was pretty hungry. Pic below is of the champagne pour they do on formal nights.

We had 2 shows, which is great.  A comedian at 8 in the Universe Lounge and a production show in the theater at 9.  The comedian was ad libbing more than he probably should have so it was just so-so.  And the production show was one we’d already seen on our October cruise so………………….I got in a power nap.  Anita said it was the fastest I’d ever fallen asleep at a show.  She was right.

And there you have it.  Another great day filled with fun, gifts, gambling winnings, food, entertainment, rekindling old friendships and simply having a great time.   It’s a bit decadent perhaps, but you know what ?…..That’s ok too.