Mon, March 5th – Reunion with Gordon

I had a whole list of stuff to get accomplished in the mere 5 hours we’re due to be in port today. Veendam is due to be in port from Noon until 5:30 (crew must be back onboard by 5), and the RCCL Jewel of the Seas has been here since 7 am, and is due to leave at 3 pm. My friend Gordon and I are going to have lunch, and he’s on the Jewel, so our window is limited.

Luckily, I’m not doing any shopping today, since I’m leaving the ship this weekend. But I do have THREE packages to get to the post office, in the hopes of lightening up my luggage for the flight. I’ll have to sneak the packages off in my backpack because US customs doesn’t like you off-loading stuff from the ship. Last week this meant making two separate trips, since the boxes wouldn’t both fit in my backpack at the same time.

I would like to get some Starbucks sometime before we ship off to Central America again, but that’s low on the priority list. Also, there is this one ‘starving musician’ who sits on the sidewalks of Duval Street with his dog and a hat for tips, and when he plays random high notes on the flute, the dog howls. I’ve often passed this guy and his singing dog while on the phone with Mom, which she can hear, so I’m going to try to get a video of him today to be able to show her when I get home.

So, right at 11 am, I’m sitting in my cabin and I feel the thrusters kick in to slow us down – perfectly on time, as they always kick in exactly one hour before we open the gangway. (One of the perks of having a cabin near the hull, as most of the cabins don’t hear and feel the vibrations of the thrusters.)

At noon, I’m standing on the gangway, one box in a shopping bag, and the two smaller boxes bulging out of my backpack. I couldn’t look more obvious. But luckily, as the crew begins to rally around the gangway, waiting for crew to be allowed to disembark, I see my advantage – stay in the group. At about 12:08, they open up the gangway for crew, and off we go.

Just as I see a security officer eyeing me a little suspiciously, I see the highlight of my day – Gordon standing on the pier, WAITING for me! (How thoughtfully sweet!!! How gallant!) The smile on my face spread from ear to ear and I practically RAN down the gangway to give him a humongous hug!!!

Together we walked quickly to the post office, catching up on all the “how are you” stuff, feeling like the month since we last saw each other was years or days all at the same time. It was so wonderful to see him again!!!

I successfully mailed all three packages at once, then we made a quick dash over to Duval Street and up to Fleming Street, while he called Yuliana on the cell phone to tell her where to meet us for lunch. On the way to the restaurant, we came across the flautist and his dog, and I got my video. I was getting my list all knocked out! We three had a quick lunch, then Yuliana had to dash back to Veendam to get to work, and I walked Gordon back to the Jewel just in time for him to sail.

And then I glanced down at my watch and realized it was not quite 3 PM and I had nothing left to do but go home and kill the rest of the day. No sailaway set today, no show tonight, and I’m probably not going to get off the ship again til Costa Maya on Friday, so to go home now means just to find ways to kill time.

As I come back towards the Veendam, I am welcomed by one of my favorite greetings – several of the Filipino sailors are out on deck, changing out the liferafts, and they all see me and call to me and wave. This is such an endearing welcome, and warms my heart every time I come ‘home.’

But just as I get to the gangway, Vasile is disembarking, and invites me to join him as he’s going to meet the boys for lunch. In a sentimental sort of “let’s do it while we still have time” mood, I join him.

We had a great time, first at Sloppy Joe’s bar, then down to Cheeseburger, just hanging out, getting in all that last-minute bonding. We headed back to the ship, getting onboard just before the 5 PM deadline.

It was a perfectly relaxed, everything-accomplished, laid-back, beautifully perfect day. And once again, I thank God and count my blessings for how wonderful this life is sometimes. It was great to see Gordon one last time, neither of us knowing when we might see each other again if not on a ship. (Although I am certainly considering a future vacation to South Africa to run around the country and visit him, Abi & Michel, Liza, Andrew, and Ernie.)

Still, in the back of my mind, a thought pops up that makes me grin again… 5 days til I go home!