It's a gift.....

I wanted to write about some adventures getting and installing our sort of new sound system. Something came up last night that warrants me putting that on hold, for a few days. I'm going to get into friendship a little now, please hang around, if you would like.

Some of you know I am by trade, a Registered Nurse. In 1997 I was having some medical symptoms that eventually led to a diagnosis of hepatitis C, a liver disease. I am happy to say after a year of intense treatment I was, and still am, virus free. I was lucky, it was caught in an early stage and did very little, if any, damage.

I started going to a weekly support group at a local hospital. Meeting with others in various stages of the disease was interesting and very helpful. One of the participants lived just around the block from me and Wanda. We would ride to meetings together and eventually became friends. She lost her battle in the spring of 2003.

Many things can motivate people to make changes in their lives. A few years ago a movie, "The Bucket List" was popular. The relationship of the two principal characters begins in a hospital room. They are both undergoing treatment for cancer and eventually each creates their "bucket list." The list is made up of things  they would like to do before they lose their own battles.

Wanda and I had been talking about visiting Alaska for a couple  of years. We both loved the idea of seeing this majestic state via cruise ship. It was the passing of Penny that got me making the initial inquires and eventually booking the trip. It wasn't long after the cruise that I realized the passing of a friend is terrible motivation. Since then Wanda and I have done many things because we want to. It's really a much better way to go

So, in the early fall of 2003 we went on our first cruise. We took Amtrak from the station near us,  Martinez, to Seattle, Washington. We spent a day exploring Seattle then boarded the then brand new Star Princess for our week long round trip cruise. We had port stops in three Alaska cities, sailed to one glacier and stopped in Victoria, Canada. We had a wonderful time, loved the entire trip and vowed to do it again, someday soon.

The only problem we discovered upon returning home, was returning home. Don't get me wrong, we truly love our lot in life but that cruise was very special. Some of the cruise lines offer special prices to people 55 and older. I qualified for those fares in December '03 and we found a nice eight day Mexico cruise in the spring of 2004. Wanda and I were so very pleased when our kids and their son were able to join us. What a great way for a family, or friends, to travel together. Prior to our departure on this Mexican cruise we booked another one for the fall of 2004, a ten day also to Mexico.

Prior to the first cruise I discovered a site dedicated to the cruise vacation. I soon learned it was the largest "cruise community" on the Internet,  Cruise Critic . It is full of valuable tips and information, take a look even if you don't think you will ever cruise, it's fun. While exploring the site I found our cruise "roll call." This is a site to meet and get to know your fellow passengers. The Mexico cruise was almost a year away and we were already "talking" about it.

Eventually the time slipped by, our cruise day was upon us, we were ready to go. Sailing out of our home port, San Francisco is nice and easy. Our daughter Jennifer drove us in to the point of departure where the Sapphire Princess was waiting for us. We made meeting arrangements with all the folks from the Cruise Critic boards for just after the lifeboat safety drill, around 4:00PM.

That first day we got together with a lot of people. Some of us had been corresponding on line for ten months. I don't know what makes some people click? There is nothing I can even guess about. Whatever the non reason, several of us did. Wanda and I were celebrating our fifteenth wedding anniversary on the cruise. We asked three of the couples and one of their daughters if they would join us for a celebratory dinner, which they did. That dinner solidified what has now become a seven year relationship. One of the couples lives in New Jersey. Despite the distance they are just as close as those of us who live here in California.

Over the course of these past seven years many more people have joined this "cruising circle of friends. We can not "take credit" for bringing anyone in however, we are sure glad others did. I guess there are a couple dozen of us now, each and every one I consider a good friend. I know I could ask anything of them and if at all possible get assistance.  All of the couples were introduced while on a cruise ship but we have much more in common.

Over these past seven years we have "talked" on line every day. We have been together on cruises, train trips, short vacations, birthdays, anniversary's, long week ends, and what soon will be a funeral service. Last night I sent this e mail to a husband in our group:

I write this with mixed emotions, which I'm sure I share with you and the family. It's so very difficult to come to the decisions, realization and conclusions that you have obviously made. I remember very well my first contact and later my first meeting with your family. I am sure I speak for Wanda when I say our lives have been enriched greatly because of your wife. I'll always look back fondly on the many things we, along with the group too large to mention, did together. We thank you for becoming a part of our wonderful circle of friends. Thank you for letting us know about this latest development. We will keep you both in our thoughts and prayers. May your wife have a painless and easy journey forward.

There is a saying I recently heard in an animated movie. "Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery and today is the present. That is why they call it a gift."

Have a great day everyone and remember, it's a gift. And please, if you want or are thinking about doing something special you don't need a reason. You are reason enough.