CARIBBEAN MUSE CHAPTER 6

Our final night on board, Saturday, we three aft deckies hosted an end of the cruise appetizer and wine party. Mostly fueled by the various bottles of wine we had accumulated over the course of the week and a couple of deli trays. Brian contributed plates of goodies from the buffet and charming little tuxedo clad penguins of chocolate from the ship board cafe. As it was also the anniversary of what would have been Mother's 81st birthday, we began the party with a toast to her who no doubt was seated right in the midst of the hilarity. Fireworks accompanied our toast as the final sunset of the trip displayed itself in timely fashion and succulent glory as old Sol glided majestically into the briny deep of the Atlantic. How's that for freakin' poetry?

The moment led to minor meltdowns for the eldest and youngest of the party for different reasons. Reminiscence has been a large part of the last year and a half both during familiar get-togethers and as part of our new adventures. The rest of us engaged in a three team battle of Trivia. One thing became clear was that each team was lacking in the basics of trivial knowledge; with every team missing the same answers! Perhaps these things really did not happen.....and history lies. However when a brilliant answer was plucked from the proverbial air and somewhere deeper, there was major excitement and much argument over the veracity of the answer.

We all were up early as disembarkation began at 7:30 am. Believing in the kindness of humankind (though after the rudeness experienced throughout the trip, I don't know why I thought that); we headed for the elevators laden with our trunks and treasures. After watching car after car go by jammed to the ceiling and very disinterested passengers, who trying very hard not to make eye contact, we decided to hump it down the stairs. Oddly my suitcase had gained weight so humping down the stairs actually meant bumping it down the stairs as I could not pick it up. This led to further problems at the airport. Strange note: the trip back to the airport was $5less than the trip out. Those gypsy cabbies.....

We were informed at the counter that we were 4 lbs too heavy which results in a $50"shame on you" tax. Apparently if you pay the extra money, the plane mysteriously becomes bigger and able to fly heavier loads; or perhaps you can pump more gas in-who knows? Well choosing the cheaper part of valor, we dumped some bottles of goo that we didn't need-no not the Frangelica-and were able to make fighting weight. Although those, who shall remain nameless, merely checked their bags at the curb and thus avoided the whole "Biggest Loser" debacle altogether.

We spent the next few hours in a cut throat euchre game in the airline member lounge. Jammed in with a bunch of other "elites". Hey we were very happy for the comfortable surroundings, snackies and free Bloody Marys. We floated back to reality in Detroit facing winter once more. Racing to get from terminal "Siberia" to terminal "Way the Heck Over There" and hurtling up and down escalators which included taking one lap through a truly psychedelic corridor (lights & music) the final insult. The only time on the entire trip we were delayed was our puddle jumper from Detroit to Flint. Too much fuel on board so they had to dump it, pump it? Something. The B man said couldn't they just circle the parking lot for awhile. If it burns fuel like our boat, two times around ought to do it.

We then boarded a plane so small, I had to duck getting down the aisle and I'm the short one! Our steward was about the age of Abraham (after the kid grew up). We speculated on what mortal sin he had committed to get the 7:00 pm Sunday night flight duty to Flint. At any rate, he checked our belts, reiterated the messages no one listens to anyway, strapped himself into his jump seat, turned out the light, and as far as I know went to sleep. I'm telling you he was about 90 years old. Hate to see him trying to get the chute open and down if we had to crash land. No doubt, he would be the last one off the bird, like an hour later.

Being with everyone for this cruise was the high point even with the normal upsets and misunderstandings. We are all different and at least there is enough to do on board to do your own thing if you can find it. I think though we all retreated to our respective caves for a while to relish our togetherness and recover from it all! A big YAH to the Committe Chair M-girl who organized the trip.