Sea Day
Sea Day #4. Happiness is…. Routines, relaxation, and rest. Those are my three new R’s. I’m not in elementary school anymore so I get to make up my own. I woke up particularly early this morning. I slept very hard for 7 hours straight and woke up feeling guilty about all the calories I consumed in that fantastic dinner last night so I was at the gym when it opened at 6:00am. The best part of working out that early is that I was completely done by 7:00am. I went out by the pool deck to get some fresh air and to let Megan sleep a little longer. I watched the sea rolling along, well we are actually the ones rolling, but it’s all about perspective. I watched the yoga people doing their morning routine. After the first day in the gym with so many people participating, they moved the yoga class to the Lido deck next to the pool. The bartenders were setting up for the day and people walked through with their morning coffee and food from the buffet. Sometimes it’s just nice to be, watch the world go by, and breath fresh air. Something I forget to do that when I am back at home. Next, I headed home to get ready for the day. We were off to breakfast, we kept it light, cause we are both still full from last night. Then we went to crochet. I finished my first Project Linus Blanket today and got to turn it in. Next Megan headed off to Mahjong and I headed to the spa for my first massage of the cruise. A true time to just be pampered and relax away. The noon report from the captain mentioned that we are crossing the equator around 5:45pm this evening. We receive a note this morning telling us we are being given a temporary pass on the King Neptune ceremony until later in the cruise when we cross it a second time. (Google that one if you don’t know what it is). The captain also mentioned that we will crossing the Prime Meridian as well as the Equator this trip. A first for him, a rare occurrence for most. Without internet access I can not look up the significance of that and I am excited to learn what that actually means. Tonight was the first formal night, captain’s dinner, and gala all rolled into one. Such a fun time to get all dressed up and to see the other passengers in the finest. Megan went off to play Catan at 3:00 with her regular group and I worked on my blog for a bit. I am unable to post anything, but eventually I will be able to and you will be reading this just like normal. We were all dressed and ready for dinner with enough time to spare to go and meet with the photographers and have our pictures taken since we are all dressed in our finest. Dinner was absolutely wonderful. They pulled out all the stops for the menu and we enjoyed escargot, filet mignon, lobster and crème Brule for dessert. Wine was hosted by the captain tonight and I enjoyed a couple of glasses of Chardonnay with dinner. After dinner, since we were all dressed up, we really didn’t want to go home yet, and we didn’t want to go to the club, so we wound up in the Crow’s nest for a couple of intense rounds of Mexican train. Never played dominoes in a beaded gown before and it was so much fun. Megan is really a delightful travel companion. She puts up with doing things with me and also enjoys her independence doing things without me. Around 9:00pm Megan headed home I headed to the Billboard venue for the Gala. The captain and his partner Sasha came and had the “first dance” of the evening. Then they invited other passengers and crew members to come and join them on the dance floor. I watched for a bit and then took my leave to head back home myself. It is bittersweet being single and traveling on a world cruise sometimes. But I am so blessed to be here in this time of my life enjoying this trip with my lovely daughter. We set our clock back another hour tonight, so we are officially back in the Pacific time zone. Hello, California friends and family!! I know there are more storms heading to CA this evening and into the weekend. Keep the people there in your prayers please. Sweet dreams to you all.
Live Vicariously Through Debra 
The United States Navy has long stood on traditions. These traditions reinforce the discipline needed to keep the crew’s morale high and their mission focused. One such tradition is the King Neptune ceremony when crossing the equator aboard ship. An experienced sailor dresses as Neptune; another cross-dresses as Queen Amphitrite, a third appears as Davy Jones. They form a kangaroo court to sit in judgment of those who have not yet crossed the equator.
Those who have never crossed the equator on a ship, pollywogs in the Neptunian parlance, must prove their seaworthiness by enduring a series of physical trials at the hands of their more experienced crewmates. These may include, but are not limited to: wearing clothes backwards or inside out, drinking the royal tonic—a concoction of hot sauce, salt-water and alcohol, running a gauntlet while the crew strikes you, and surviving repeated dunking underwater. Once the pollywogs have proven themselves by surviving the hazing, they are then initiated into the kingdom of Neptune as shellbacks. Upon completion of the ceremony, the shellback is given an ornate certificate awarding him all the rights and privileges due a seasoned sailor.
Herbert and Lou Hoover and many of the Maryland crew, having crossed the equator before, were shellbacks; so they served as audience to the trial of the uninitiated. The pollywogs numbered more than thirty, consisting largely of members of the press, but also including Allan Hoover, Ruth Fesler—Mrs. Hoover’s secretary, and Kosta Boris—Mr. Hoover’s man. All pollywogs faced specific charges before the royal high court of Neptune. George Akerson was charged with spreading malicious propaganda. Berkeley Philips was charged with malingering in sick bay to avoid the ceremony. Allan Hoover was charged with attempting to burn a man’s tonsils with a magnifying glass. Ruth Fesler was accused of flirting with King Neptune. James Wright stood trial for baiting a fish hook with candy in hopes of catching a mermaid. Kosta Boris faced charges of attempting to Balkanize King Neptune.
King Neptune and his admirers, at sea, November 1928.
Facing these charges, the pollywogs had no hope when facing King Neptune. Neptune’s address must have shivered their timbres: ‘Give me your landlubbers Captain Kimberley. I’m here to make men of them. Get your sea legs, ye land dogs, and approach me. If you pass our tests, you will soon be initiated into our order of sturdy shellbacks. Approach and pledge loyalty to the traditions of our realm.’ Nevertheless, they endured, becoming shellbacks and doubtless enjoying the privileges of hazing the next group. This is how traditions endure.
LikeLike
You both look awesome! Glad you’re enjoying your trip so much!
LikeLike