Hello old friend, it’s good to be with you
Time is standing still
And we’ll be forever young…
Sometimes I feel like I watch other people’s lives and don’t really live one of my own. My life is a sample tray, I see places for a few hours at a time and am left almost always thinking how I’d like to go back there sometime, but I seldom ever do, unless I go back for another stint of a few hours.
I don’t honestly remember the last time I had a real, properly relaxing vacation. My vacations are mostly extended weekends: I spend the first week coming down from work, the second week trying to accomplish everything I’ve not been able to accomplish while I’m at work, and the third week getting ready for work.
Truly I know I need a break. The good thing is that Head Office knows this as well, and has offered me one. Going against everything my work ethic and possibly my bank account screamed at me, I jumped at the chance to actually be away from work for an extended amount of time. The contracts still have to be officially confirmed, but hopefully they all work out as planned. It helps that this is something I want, and that both my shore-side supervisors want for me, at least that means we’re all on the same side.
In the meantime, the Grand Asia is doggedly winding to a close. Much as I hate to admit it, but this truly is the boring part of the cruise. With only three ports left (all Hawaii, and all back-to-back) in our fourteen remaining days, it’s a lot of work to keep everyone occupied. Two stretches of five sea days means that we all fall into the draining routine of doing the same thing nearly every day – the closest thing to a normal ‘nine to five’ existence that we get out here. In some way’s it’s comforting, in others it makes the days go horribly slowly. I’ve talked before about the carrot that we always have to dangle in front of our own noses to keep us going at certain points in the contract. Right now that’s me, forcing myself to chase after the goal of being home for Christmas in a few weeks. It’s a goal I’ll reach of course, but it seems like forever away.
The word ‘final’ is starting to creep into the flagship’s vocabulary ever so gradually. Final deck sale! Final Grand Dollar Redemption etc etc…my book club – which has developed into quite a charming group of people surprisingly – is even approaching its final meeting.
For my part, I’m just continuing to float along. Reading more than I’m writing these days; my current read is The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen, which is just the right amount of kitchen magic mixed with reality for my somewhat sleepy state of mind just now. I get up, I go to work, I plan for my holidays, I laugh, I cry, I go home again. I sew a lot. In the famous words of Dolly Parton, I ‘pour myself a cup of ambition’ in the mornings and move on to the next thing.
I’m not sad at all, and I’m certainly not sick, I’m actually happier now than I’ve been in a very very long time, I’m just kind of in stasis I suppose. Marking time till the next amazing thing in my life comes along.