5/30/02: Last Week in Bermuda

Well, here I am in my last week in Bermuda, my last week on the Majesty. I've spent two contracts here, for about 8 months total. I know this ship and these islands very well, and I'll miss them. I've had a great time here. I'm scheduled to go to the Star in Hawaii next, although I'm still hoping for Alaska.

I've met such wonderful people here and I've learned so much about myself and other people. I've had messy roommates, roommates who smelled weird, roommates who slept all the time. This last week, I have a roommate, Lidia from Romania, who is noisy and turns on the big overhead light when I'm trying to sleep. But I am learning to accept other people, and I'm surprising myself.

I'm pretty good with the kids, too. This week, I'm working with 10-12 year olds. We have our seasonal Youth Counselors, and Amy is working with me. She has less experience, and is learning a lot from me. I'm flattered to hear that I have skills to pass on to someone else.

I've made friends with people this whole time, and I've seen many of them go. There have been times when everyone I knew was little more than an acquaintance or a social friend. The people I call friends now I will miss, and I really hope to keep in touch and see them again. And that's the beauty of ships; I likely will. It's hard to leave great people, but at the same time, it's nice to leave on such a good note.

So all in all, I'm in a great mood. It's raining a bit today, and the winds are blowing. We had boat drill this morning, followed by the monthly Captain's meeting. For boat drill, the emergency alarm goes off over the whole ship (after announcements to the passengers, telling them it's only a drill) and we put on our life jackets and go to our emergency stations. When the abandon ship alarm goes off, we go to our muster stations, alongside our life boats. Big fun; this is done every Thursday. The Captain's meeting is held in the Palace Theater, with all 650 crew members piled in with our life jackets on our laps or on the floor.

We're having a crew party tomorrow night. (For me? They shouldn't have!) Tonight, after the Pajama Jam with the youngsters, I'll go to the Waterfront. It's a bar just off the ship, and it's like the crew bar ashore, because all of the crew goes there. Tomorrow around noon, we'll sail out of St. George's Bay and back to Boston. We'll sail all day Saturday and I'll disembark early Sunday. I'll fly home Sunday, then up to Seattle on Monday. I'll spend the night with my aunt, uncle, and cousin, then travel on Tuesday to Victoria, Canada for about 10 days. I'll be in San Diego on Friday, June 14th, just in time for Father's Day. I'll be home for about a month.

Life is sweet to me. Good fortune always finds me, and the heavens seem to smile down on me. I hope life is as peachy for you right now as well.

Much love and hugs galore,
Genoa