Sea Days Non-Sequiturs

Somewhere west of California, headed to Hawaii.

After a quick stop in Los Angeles to drop off passengers from the Panama Canal transit and pick up some more world travelers, we are now 1,900 strong on the ship and we have a few sea days as we head for the beautiful Islands of Hawaii.

Having been to Los Angeles many times, I didn’t need to go see the sights. One of my new friends and I made a run to Target to pick up all the little things that I forgot or didn’t know I needed. The weather for the last few days has been very cold – 50-60 degrees F – and I didn’t pack any sleeved shirts or jackets because who knew the Pacific was going to be cold?

Sail-away from Los Angeles was a bit disappointing because it was cold and rainy and we were delayed leaving, but the people who joined us are a good crowd, looking to meet people and have fun. We folks that boarded in Fort Lauderdale are referring to ourselves as the OGs.

In preparation for Hawaii, we have onboard a couple who are teaching us about Hawaiian customs, language, music, and dancing. I made a kukui nut lei, and I am learning hula dancing (just like the Bradys!).

So here are some random thoughts that I have had while gazing out into the ocean, contemplating a sunset, or bathing in the smallest shower known to man (seriously, I can’t bend over without conking my head on the shower wall, so I open the curtain and get water everywhere).

Waving to ships. This seems a universal act. In each port and each ship we have passed close to, there is an instinctual drive to wave to the other people, almost autonomic. We have no expectation of ever meeting them or speaking to them, yet we reach up and wave vigorously, as if to say, “I see you. I am here, and you are there. Safe voyage!” Just a bit of human contact and recognition.

Sea Legs versus Land Legs. I think I’m doing well with my sea legs. We have had a few rough sea days onboard, and I have a forward cabin, so we feel the waves a bit more. I have had no troubles yet (knock wood). I am able to keep my balance most of the time and only stagger a bit on open stretches. When I get on land, I tend to stumble a bit more. Perhaps those “drunken sailors” weren’t really drunk, they just hadn’t gotten their land legs yet.

The motion of the ship feels a bit like a kid-sized rollercoaster. You know that sensation when you drop into a turn and gravity seems a bit stronger for a moment, pressing you down then kind of swinging you up and out where gravity gets a bit lighter, and you ride a bit up in your seat? And then back down again. It reminds me of the kid-sized roller coaster at the amusement park near my childhood home, back in the day before all those “safety requirements.” It seemed gigantic, a monster when I was young, and I was so brave to ride it, but it wasn’t even big enough for an adult to fit on. It was an oval with a few hills and dips. I thought it raced so fast and I loved to ride that round and round.

There are nights when I lay in the silence of my cabin and listen to the boat creak as we are buffeted by winds and waves. The roll of the ship is soothing to me, thank goodness, because I don’t think I would make it through the rest of the trip dealing with seasickness.

Meeting People. There is something special air on a cruise ship that suspends my usual cynicism. I would never dream of walking up to a group of people and interrupting their conversation with a “Hi! My name is Kathleen. Where are you from?”, never mind getting a polite response. But that happens here all the time. I sit in the theater and people around me make comments and we have a lovely chat. We introduce ourselves and ask how their day is going. Almost like kindergarten, or on the playground. I would never do that on the 7 train. I sit with strangers for meals and wave to them as we pass in the hallways. It is so far outside my regular life experience. I wonder if it could be like that, and I just haven’t tried to extend myself. Or would I be branded the weird girl who talks to strangers? Is it just my ‘New York’ showing? New Yorkers are pretty good at keeping to themselves in a city of 18 million people. We are definitely aware of those around us – we are not mean; we help when needed - but it’s pretty hard to strike up a conversation. There are too many variables and scenarios that could go very wrong.