I sit here watching a family play bridge at the game table across from me. Outside the window to my right, I can see the bright blue waters of the Caribbean lazily pass by. Our ship, the Carnival Horizon, has been my home for the last eight days. And… I don’t want to leave.
The last few days are the worst part of a vacation, and yet, usually, I’m ready to go home. This time, however, there isn’t even a sliver of readiness. This trip was needed. Far more than I care to get into here. When I get back home, I know there is a pile of work waiting for me. My day job, book shows, board duties, streaming, all while I try to maintain the level of writing this cruise has afforded me.
The family of card players has gone through three games. All the while, I stare at a blank page, my mind filled with a checklist of things that need my attention when I return home. Most of which I don’t have issues doing. Some of it brings enjoyment. It’s the margins, though, the stuff I didn’t mention above, that worries me the most. THAT stuff I don’t have to deal with.
My wife and I both needed this vacation, and we both agreed that there was a sense of… Maybe it is missing the words. We feel like the island stops were lackluster. But here’s the thing: I don’t think it’s the island’s fault. I don’t believe we gave them a fair shake. We arrived in Aruba and had a lot planned. We got off the ship, walked around for four hours, and then returned back to the ship. Then, it was my turn to disappear; I had an excursion I had spent far too much time and money to obtain. And… Well. Let’s just say I fumbled the ball on that one. No one’s fault but my own. This started the three days of island hopping off on the wrong foot. The next day, Bonaire awaited us. Again, we got off, did some shopping, and wondered; this time, I was fighting personal injury, so it dampened my mood and enjoyment of the island. The highlight, however, did shine through as we stopped at a well-established restaurant and treated ourselves. Karels in Bonaire is a must-stop. So, the day ended on a more positive note. Then, Curacao, the final island. We decided, having talked about the ho-hum nature of our visits so far, that maybe an excursion that took us around the island might be something we needed to do. If you ever go on a cruise to visit other countries, it’s our philosophy you get out away from the touristy spots and SEE the island you’re visiting. So we did that and were not disappointed. For its reward, Curacao also took the bulk of our shopping budget. Gotta get gifts for those back home, right?
The card game is still going, though I’m unsure who’s winning. Does it even matter who’s winning? The fact they are all sitting here playing a card game together while the ocean outside ushers us home is something they’ll always have. Cruises have something for everyone, and you get out of it what you put into it. I tried to put my best foot forward, and by the end, we were rewarded. It just took a lot longer to let go. It took work to relax. And now that we’ve obtained that, I don’t want to go home and undo all that. Shuffling the deck and drawing a new hand when I have a decent one is not my idea of fun.