CRUISING WITH ROCKS

Traveling by ship used to be quite a production.  In the 1800’s, you took your giant steamer trunk filled with everything you might need with you.  If you were rich enough, you had a maid or valet to take care of your belongings.

By the 1950’s, you probably didn’t have a maid, but you still had volumes of luggage.  Hats, long and short dresses, suits, and even a bathing suit or two.  White gloves.  Shoes to fit every outfit were there also.  Women brought their best jewelry, and they wore it often.  Men usually wore sports coats, ties, and they had white and black tie stuff packed for dinner.  The ships were small, and one could get to know both the staff and fellow travelers.  Mother often cruised on the same ships and the staff always remembered her.

By the seventies and eighties, you often carried some of your own baggage.  Here’s mother off to play golf perhaps in Hawaii or an island in the Pacific.  She is 5 foot 4, and has had a double mastectomy.  She had the strength to carry those clubs, and they were not light.  She still took her jewelry, and she had evening gowns designed to hide other cancer surgeries.

By the time I began to cruise, I bought my first good dress at the ACA Discovery thrift store.  My jewels came from Ross Dress for less.  The shoes from Nordies Rack.  I have them still.  George has a blue and a black suit…oh, what simple luggage we have.  And, oh, we too like the smaller ships which grow harder to find on our smaller budget.  We are still paying off those side tours from the Panama Canal cruise.  This last cruise, I wore shoes from Target.  Perhaps next, we will cruise to Disneyland.

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• Himself:  A just right day at work.
• Herself:  Laundry and quilting on this showery day.
• Reading:  The most recent Inspector Gamache.
• Gratitude’s:  For a good day with the books yesterday…and more of the nautical books too.