The Vacation - A narrative

I had a whole vacation entry written up but then somehow I just got SUPER lazy and thought posting the picture would be better but you know, I'm such a whore for guilt, so thanks, Max.

I have absolutely no shame in admitting Jeff and I are totally cruise people. We took our second cruise this past week, down to the Caribbean this time and it was spectacular. Not only was the weather beautiful and warm and the islands hospitable and interesting, the actual cruise was perfect. There is nothing like being pampered and coddled to within an inch of your life all with booze and food you can eat. People can poo-poo cruises as old-people vacations but honestly, it's the most bang for a buck that someone can get. We're already planning our Alaskan cruise for next year after graduation.

Weirdly, the vacation ended on a very strange turn. On the flight home from Puerto Rico, I answered a call for any medical personnel as they thought someone was having a heart attack. Not much to do on a plane and we were close enough to NYC to not have to divert but still, it was a weird way to close the week...I thought. On the way from our house back to the city the following day, a guy was killed on a motorcycle just minutes before we got there. Since we were one of the first on the scene, I had to try to do something but with an amputated leg stuck to the guardrail, it was pretty much too late. So then I thought THAT was a weirdish way to finish the vacation.

But wait.

Being true to my pledge not to check work emails until I got back to work on Monday morning, I spend the first few hours on Monday sorting and reading and then came to the email from my sister-in-law. Oh, by the way, Grandma died last week while you were on the cruise so hope you're checking your emails. It was weird to have completely missed my Grandmother's death and her funeral but as my Dad said when I finally called him, there wasn't anything I could have done from the cruise and so I can appreciate that. I do feel like my little grandma had an amazing last two years of her life (strangely since my grandfather passed away) where she got amazing care and attention but could live at home and do the things she loved so I'm glad she had that kind of happiness.

Ultimately, even with all that weird stuff at the end, it was still a good vacation. Good to be away from work and school, good to spend some great time with Jeff and his parents who joined us on the cruise. We also upgraded our beaten silver rings we'd bought back on our first anniversary to white gold bands cut with sapphires the color of the Caribbean waters so we felt like it was a meaningful trip for our 10th anniversary.