During Professor Zadeh's seminar talk today there was mention of the U.S. getting outof Iraq right away, and a lot of spontaneous clapping broke out in the mostly American audience.
I think the passenger Talent Show will begin about 4:10. This is where the seminars were held, so I just stayed on to see Ben and the rest strut their stuff.
I saw Ben scoot backstage at the end of the last talk. Maybe he's rehearsing.
He left me this note in the cabin which I didn't find until after the show when
we came back together to dress for dinner. "Dearest Mary! I will be on after 4
:15 pm in Van Gough Lounge. I report at 4:00 pm at Balcony Starboard. Much love, Ben." Then another line with a later message: "I have gone to find you. 5:
05 pm. Love, Ben."
A woman danced alone, and beautifully, several people sang. There must have been
at least fifteen or twenty performers of various kinds. Some of them were outstanding. I think some were, or had been professionals before they retired There was an opera singer who was clearly a professional diva. Built like one, and with the majesty you'd expect, too. Ben did stand-up comedy that was good --and well-liked, judging from the amount of applause he received. He likes to keep his hand in, and this was another good chance.
Sunday night's dinner dress was formal. I wowed 'em all with my lovely turquoise and gold brocade Chinese jacket which was a gift from a good friend in Dalian.
Ben and I had photos taken beside a large globe of the world where a photographer was at work as we passed on our way to dinner, and also at the prow of the ship at sunset. Both turned out well. Photographs are snapped or posed here and there by ship's photographers and later posted for sale. You go to where they are
displayed, choose which you want to buy and discard the rest.
I met a sweet woman named Joyce who was going home to the removal of a malignantbreast tumour and radiation treatment, poor dear. So many stories on ships. I
gave her a big hug and later when I said prayers for her I felt it would turn out OK. She bought $400.00 worth of photos for her family. As she said, "in case
." I noticed she was hugging a lot of people and I think she needed warm and reassuring contact with others. She was cherishing life.
We docked at Ensenada, Mexico on Monday at 6:15 pm. The pilot came aboard at 5:
30. At twelve midnight we undocked again. Ben and I went ashore only to the
pier where there were stalls with goods for tourists. We didn't go into
town. We've been in the border city of Ensenada before, and we aren't interested in bars or the night life. I bought a charmingly painted owl that is hanging
in one of the kitchen windows now.
Monday evening's dinner dres was informal. The dining room and kitchen staff came for thanks and the waiters all paraded around with special cakes glowing with
celebratory sparklers in the darkened dining room. We said goodbye to those whohad welcomed us and taken care of us, and we gave them each a little envelope with a tip. We packed until 1 a.m. and placed our bags in the passageway outsideour door by the time requested. They are picked during the night and you reclaim them in a baggage shed when you have finished with all the disembarkation procedures. Monday, all day, had been a good day. We went to the final Questions
and Answers on the Middle East, with Professor Zadeh. It was a very friendly gathering in the Explorer Lounge. Ben optioned his interesting book: "Islam vs. Terrorism, and they concluded the arrangement the next day with signatures.
Tuesday was disembarkation day. Disembarkation went well and smoothly. We werescheduled to go off early, so Ben arranged with Mat, our room steward to leave
our carrying bags in our room until then. We had a leisurely breakfast in the dining room, always very pleasant. We went through customs. All our bills had been paid by Ben at the front desk the night before.
When we arrived again at our hotel across from the pier I was very tired and slept, while Ben went out. In the evening we went to bed very, very early. Ben began to get symptoms of "the cold" on Wednesday. Poor honey. I'm down to nasal
spray and occasional doses of Robotussin to keep the cough clearing up, but he'sjust beginning, and has to drive us all the way home.
A10 will begin to tell about the trip home.
*********
