New years revolution

12/31 2001 to the new year

I figured it would be the most appropriate, ringing in the new years on a ship, when I spent most of 2011 working at sea. Yesterday, I received a phone call, late at night that I would possibly be able to take my free cruise (which you are allowed to sign up for if you’ve worked for the company for so many months....I worked 11) if anyone were to drop out at the last minute. I thought to myself, why not? If they call me, why not be spontaneous and go on a cruise to Mexico? After being on a ship for 11 months though, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go near another ship for a while. Being on land has freed me.  Though I cherished my experience, I loved the life on land, and I am looking forward to making a life in Portland. However, I thought, when will be the next time I am offered a basically free cruise to Mexico? I shut out all of my thoughts, and packed my bags for yet another spontaneous life moment. 

Now, my friend Shannon (who is currently on break from pounding her books hard from grad school) and I decided we would go if they called us last minute. I ended up calling them back the day of to see if they had any last minute reservations cancelled. I mean, this was a special cruise, since it was the new years cruise. I was pretty sure no one would have wanted to cancel. But sure enough, I called, and they had a space for us. I told Shannon it was time to head on out. Thankfully, the only sure commitments I had was a dentist appointment and meeting up with good friends. I am lucky, they all understood how rare this opportunity is. 

We got to the terminal, and everything fell so smoothly. No questions asked. Everyone was super friendly, and I (for once) was a passenger on the ship. I don’t know if you would quite get how strange that feels. This meant, I have NO RULES! If I wanted to, I could walk around the Lido deck with only a bath robe on, I could wander into the swimming pool or jacuzzi, and I could make my own reservations....alright, I get that this may sound odd to some of you, but really, it’s the small things. After Shannon and I checked into our room, we went up to get some lunch, and I ran into a familiar face from the first ship I worked on. She was one of the Lido workers on the Prinsendam, and I was sure after I transfered ships, I would never see her again. I was lucky to see my friend Erza from indonesia once again. She was so happy to reunite, she reached over the counter to touch my hands :) I was filled with joy. I also saw a friend from the shops I knew on the Amsterdam and some bar staff who were familiar. So many memories flooded into my brain. 

I was a little emotional too. After spending most of my year on a ship, I started to remember all of those amazing people that touched my life so deeply, who I may not see again. Or, I may, who knows? I wandered around the stage, and felt like I was out of place....shouldn’t I be getting ready for a show? I went to the ocean bar, and expected to see a smiling face that I love so much. I half expected to run into my dear friends Ericka and Yulien on the ship while they were wandering around .

Shannon and I went to dinner at the Dining Room, and met some very interesting people already. We got to see some great entertainment too. Then, we went to the new years party and danced the night away. I am not sure what it was, but it was kind of amazing. It’s not that it was anything particularly special, but it meant alot for me to ring in the new year on a ship. I’ve really had the time of my life this past year, and I am grateful for all of it :) The year 2012 holds an exciting new adventure. I am so looking forward to writing more of my life as it comes. I am ready to take what I have learned and use it to enrich my life as well as others....will you join me in this adventure? :)

Jan 1 2012

It is indeed the year 2012. Everything that we have ever thought about 2012, may or may not be true...who knows. But we are making history, right now, in this first day of 2012. We changed our calenders, and though the gym floods with hopeful people, and others make the resolutions to be better at their life, we are left with some disappointments midway through the year. Must New Year’s always just be a novelty? Why not take the word Years.....and make it Days? Or better yet, New MOMENTS resolution. That would surely start a revolution....don’t you think? If we really lived in the moment, the way our hearts and souls truly desire? I think we are meant for great things, even bigger than we ever expected. But we have to stop living in the past, or even the future. Because the truth is, the only thing there ever is or was....is NOW.