Tag Archive for: cruise

Finding the “real” United States

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By AB Plum

During a recent cruise from Barcelona to Miami I asked the young Indian cook preparing my egg-white omelet, “Have you visited the US?”

“No, madam. It is my dream. But someday I will go. Where do you think I should start?”

Obviously, this isn’t a one-minute conversation (about the time for my omelet to cook). But we discussed the question at length over his next fourteen preparations of my breakfast.

“New York,” he said next morning, flipping the concoction in his skillet—a skill I’ve never mastered and told him so to let him know I’m not an expert in either flipping omelets or mapping out cross-country trips. “I think,” he continued, “Manhattan and Hollywood-Los Angeles must go to the top of the list, don’t you agree?”

Someone behind me interrupted, “I’d like to order an omelet now because I don’t want to miss the lecture on Columbus’s discovery of America.”

So, my new friend and I tabled the question until the following day when I picked up our conversation. “Since you’re from New Delhi, I’d suggest places other than cities. Do you know about the Grand Canyon? Or Yosemite National Park? The Black Hills aren’t that far from Yellowstone or the Tetons …”

A hungry passenger elbowed in next to me and announced, “I’d like two eggs over easy.”

When I commented to other passengers about this on-going conversation, they all had definite ideas of places to go and places to experience. None recommended NYC or LA.

By the end of the cruise, I still lacked a solid plan but suggested beginning in Washington, DC. From there, I recommended the Black Hills, adding he should see the Crazy Horse Monument before proceeding to Yellowstone and/or the Tetons.

Next, I advised, head south and west to Salt Lake City, veering off to The Grand Canyon. Afterwards, fly to San Francisco to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. With any time, money, or energy left, I suggested flying to Seattle—maybe managing to hook up with a cruise ship destined for Alaska.

My new friend thanked me for my ideas, but I think he still felt the allure of NYC.

Yes, I recognize my itinerary leaves out huge swaths of our country, its history, and culture. I happen to love West Virginia and New Orleans. I know many would insist Mount Vernon and Monticello are a must for anyone visiting Washington. My preferences, Lincoln’s Tomb and Birthplace, probably do require too much travel off the beaten path. For me, they evoke more poignant memories than Washington’s and Jefferson’s plantations. I hope I conveyed the “real” United States is more than the East and West Coasts.

What do you think? Where would you send a foreign visitor with 21 days to see the USA? 

******When AB isn’t lolling on trans-oceanic cruises, she lives and writes just off the fast lane in Silicon Valley. Her American Journey began in Southern Missouri, after which she lived in Bolivia, Kansas, North Carolina, Florida, and Argentina. Book 3 in The MisFit Series, The In-Between Years is now available from Amazon.  Look for Book 4, The Reckless Year on November 17—just in time for Thanksgiving.










A Re-Awakening

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by Marjorie Brody

The New Year arrived for me in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. A live band, champagne and chocolate covered strawberries accompanied a balloon drop at midnight. The cruise allowed me to escape telephone calls and the demands of emails, meetings, and deadlines. I took a speed boat ride

through the rain forest, climbed Mayan ruins, and swam in gorgeous blue, calm water. I relaxed and gained a fresh perspective on my goals for the coming year. As a guest on a cruise ship, I was treated like royalty.

The vacation reminded me of how fortunate I am—purely by accident of my birth—to belong to the privileged of this world. Even though I have at times experienced religious prejudice, my life is blessed. I live in a country where, even as a female, I can receive an education, earn a living, marry the person of my choice, and raise the number of children I choose. My cruise experience, and the countries I visited, reinforced my awareness of the difference between the haves and the have nots. Years ago I wrote a poem about the divide between the privileged and underprivileged classes in our country. I pulled it out to reread and I’m sharing it with you below.

The New Year and its tradition of making resolutions coincided for me on this cruise and I decided that this year, my commitment wouldn’t be to write more regularly or submit more often. My resolution wouldn’t be to lose weight or exercise three times a week. My resolution would push me to think outside of my own little world and do something to make the world a better place for those less fortunate than I.

May the New Year be good to you.

SIDE-BY-SIDE IN AMERICA: THE PLAYGROUND

Twisted gray weeds wrap around
rusted spikes
                                                      Manicured grass, plush, green
                                                      and well styled
where once the swings stood
                                                       under brilliant colored poles
Rats and roaches scuffle
among bottles, cans, and paper
finding their way to
                                                      Children laughing,
                                                      singing rhymes and shouting,
                                                      playing tag and statues
Termites on an endless feast
gorging themselves on
                                                      “See-saw Margery Daw”
Mosquitoes and flies hovering
around excrement and vomit
                                                      Uniformed nannies strolling flowered paths
                                                      pushing their carriages,
                                                      and gossiping sweetly
                                                      And the friendly policeman
                                                      tips his cap as they pass
a drunk beaten and robbed
lying under the bushes
blood inching down his mouth
and ear—his temple pulsing
                                                       the heavy thunder of roller skates
                                                       on cement
its redness turned brown by
an equal part dirt
                                                       “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
                                                       Humpty Dumpty had a great . . .”
“Help me,” faintly come
                                                        babies cooing as they have their
                                                        tummies satisfied with
                                                        bottles full of warm white
clouds turning black
as the chill of night sets in
                                                        And as the sun seeks the horizon
                                                        the nannies call the children
                                                        home
                                                        to an unappreciated dinner
                                                        and lush, warm beds
                                                        And the children laugh, and
                                                        run
                                                        “ . . . all the way, all the way home”
with the faint voice calling
                                                        “three, six, nine, I resign.”

Marjorie Brody is an award-winning author and Pushcart Prize Nominee. Her short stories appear in literary magazines and the Short Stories by Texas Authors Anthology and four volumes of the Short Story America Anthology. Her debut psychological suspense novel, TWISTED, was awarded an Honorable Mention at the Great Midwest Book Festival and won the Texas Association of Authors Best Young Adult Fiction Book Award. TWISTED is available in digital and print at http://tinyurl.com/cv15why or http://tinyurl.com/bqcgywl. Marjorie invites you to visit her at www.marjoriespages.com. 

Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out

/in /by

By Evelyn David

 

Well Timothy Leary of LSD fame advised us to do all three,
but hubby and I only managed the last – we totally dropped out of our
fast-paced, over-packed, multi-scheduled lives for one week. We took a cruise.

A few days after Christmas, my better half and I started
talking about needing to get away, to recharge our batteries which had been
running on empty. It’s been an incredibly busy time, both personally and
professionally – but heck, when isn’t it? Still, I was surprised when he
suggested we go to a travel agent and see what our options were.

Now here’s the rub. Hubby makes an albino look like an ad
for Coppertone. Red-haired and fair, he is very susceptible to sun poisoning. Don’t
ask about our 25th wedding anniversary trip – let’s just say, fever
and swollen legs the size of elephants put a damper on the celebrations – and yes,
he was wearing sunscreen at the time!

So it seemed foolish to go to some island with the
expectation that we would lie in the sun for a week.

“What about a cruise,” father of my four children
asked.

“Who is this guy,” I answered. “A cruise?
What would you do?”

“Sleep, eat, read,” he assured me. “Wander
around islands when we dock.”

Now came the hard part. Nope, it wasn’t choosing which
cruise because his work schedule dictated the only week we could go and so the
choice was made for us. No, the real issue was me getting on a plane in order
to get to the ship. See, if you don’t go out of Florida
or Puerto Rico, you’ll spend two days getting
to warm weather. Leave from points South and you start off in shorts and
sleeveless tops.

Those of you who know me understand that I loathe flying
(notice that suggests that I don’t like it, as opposed to being terrified the
entire time and personally holding up the plane through my grip on the arm
rests). But I looked at hubby, who really did look tired – and I acted as
though me flying was no big deal (which neither he nor any of my kids believed –
so much for my acting ability).

When did I know that this cruise idea was a winner? The
moment my feet crossed the gangplank. There were a host of people offering me
champagne, chocolate, and an unending buffet. Seriously, did they know I was
coming or what? The stateroom with a small balcony was perfectly appointed with
a queen-sized bed, large closet, a private bath the size of the one I have at
home – and two stewards to clean and bring us fresh towels, room service, and
chocolate on our pillows each night. And no, we didn’t have the most expensive
room on the ship – not by a longshot.

The food was delicious and way too plentiful. My husband
quickly slipped into the “I paid for it, I’m eating it – and by the way,
are you finishing yours, if not, I will” culture. If he went more than two
hours without a snack, he claimed he was getting peckish. The ship had a
two-story library – we each read three books over the 7-day cruise. There was a
casino (I won $6.20 playing the penny slots). Husband won a bracelet by taking
a free raffle ticket, stuck into his hand while on his way to yet another
snack. He gave me the jewelry and headed off to the buffet. I passed on the
opportunity to learn the steps to Gangnam Style, which I confess, I regret.

We wandered around the islands, saw a butterfly farm where I
learned that Eric Carle has been lying to me all these years. Seems that the
very hungry caterpillar did not build a cocoon, instead he built a chrysalis
(moths, not butterflies, construct cocoons). But in my relaxed cruise state, I
accepted that Eric Carle was exercising artistic license.

While I checked my email a couple of times a day, hubby
turned off his phone when we walked up the gangplank – and didn’t turn it back
on for seven days. He was the most relaxed I’ve ever seen him and we’ve been
married forever. Among his forays on the ship was to a presentation on future
cruises.

But we’re back now – amidst freezing temps and snowy days;
no more stewards, waiters, or fruity cocktails with little paper umbrellas. But
most of all, our batteries have been recharged. We don’t want to drop out –
except for maybe once a year.

Ship Ahoy!

Marian, the Northern half of Evelyn David   

 

 


A Reason to Give Thanks includes: Giving Thanks
in Lottawatah, Bah, Humbug in Lottawatah, Moonlighting at the Mall, The Fortune
Teller’s Face, A Reason to Give Thanks, Sneak Peek – Murder Off the Books,
Sneak Peek – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries

A Reason to Give Thanks
Kindle
Nook
Smashwords

 

Sullivan Investigations Mystery
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback 
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

 

 


Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah– Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Summer Lightning in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords

The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)

Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords