Nov 02.2009 - Day At Sea

DKP : Today is a day of rest. With 14 ports at our backs, there's nothing more helpful then a day of cruising the blue line and just letting the day unfold as it may. Tomorrow we explore our final European (Spanish) port, Las Palmas, Canary Islands... the closest port to Africa so far. We are looking forward to seeing this part of the world for the first time but we are also saying goodbye again to Europe.

I have found solace today in the Aft Lounge, called the Burgundy (everything RED you know). I go between total silence and short chats with the Bar Tender about the efficiency of the bar design in it's proximity to the dishwasher room, shared by the Piano Bar next door. Why this constant interest in a field of work that is not my own... I fascinate myself sometimes :-)

I blame it on my Dad. He talked about this kind of stuff constantly over dinner and whenever we had time to hang out. I mean, he didn't offer it up freely, he's a quiet guy by nature, but he ended up with quite an inquisitive daughter. I know part of my nature didn't help in the time for after work newspapers and recliner naps... I was quite the talker. He really should have just taken me with him I guess, then I could have just lived it. - HA!

Watching my father work at the weekly behind the scenes "production" of the cruise ship industry sparked a ton of natural desire in me. I love the water, especially the sea, I love learning how things work, I love fixing them when they are broken, I LOVE making systems work better and I especially LOVE hanging with the team of people that share this interest. I can relate to the passenger, the concert goer, the consumer on some level... I'd have to, to be able to run my own business, but I relate to the folks that make the magic happen much much more. I am eternally interested in the serious stare behind the smile, how people "turn it on" and then off again, just to get the job done.

I'm starting to think that there is a larger purpose in this long long ride at sea for 2009... I'm still learning what all of that is.