As time continues its endless flow, we are coming into contact with events, either noteworthy or otherwise. When a significant number of them have elapsed, a post can be produced to summarize the particular window of time, in order to preserve this memory past the momentary spark of the actual event, and also past the increasingly fragile memories of all those who experienced it firsthand. While the memory is fresh, a fresh recounting seems redundant at best and banal at worst, yet by the time such a recounting becomes prized, it is at that point nearly impossible to obtain in pristine condition. Thus, these are the events that have occurred in the recent past, spanning the time between the previous post and the near present.
A few minor milestones passed by: 9 years at my current company and my 39th birthday. Typically, I would take this opportunity to reflect on the past, but work and life have been too busy, with little time to think about these things. Work has really picked up this year, with everyone on the team seemingly swamped. That has been my case, at least. Whenever I'm not taking care of the kid, I've been working. Thus, the one week vacation was a welcome reprieve to the constant toil.
The cruise was a new experience for everyone involved: my parents, myself and my brother, and my wife and our two year old toddler. It was specifically planned to be a time of rest, unlike most if not all vacations I've had in the past, where going back to work was a vacation from the vacation. I had been running at full capacity at work during the months leading up to the vacation, so I did not need my vacation to be even more work. What could be more relaxing than floating on a boat where all I needed to care about was when and where to eat? That was the plan, and unlike most interesting stories, that was more or less the way things turned out.
It was an enjoyable time where we had time to bond. My wife and I were able to relax, having offloaded our toddler to my parents, who offloaded him onto my unsuspecting brother. As it is common of relationships in general, my brother's experience with my little boy was one of equal parts of joy and pain - my little boy joyfully made my brother's life painful. It was so difficult that my brother became bedridden for a significant portion of the trip, with my boy sometimes bedside, encouraging him.
Other than that, the cruise was nice. I experienced things I've never experienced before, such as being on such a large boat. I saw things I've never seen before, such as the blue ocean and the sunrise and sunset over such a vast expanse. In some ways, a cruise is truly magical, a way to affordably live in luxury with modern comforts, hundreds or thousands of miles away from civilization.
The basics were free, but there was never a missed opportunity to upsell, whether with parking, fresh juices, alcoholic beverages, fizzy drinks, shore excursions, massages, or tips. You had to be quite careful, otherwise there were numerous people happy to relieve you of any excess monetary weight. At least everyone was friendly.
Coming back, the trip was tedious but the Lord kept everyone safe, even if my wife and parents did get sick at the end. I'd say this was one of the more pleasant vacations where I did very little and am happy little was done. Maybe I'm getting old.
