What is Progress?

What is Progress?

For the very first time since coming on board, I opened the booklet with the choice of shore itineraries in Bali, only to find that all of them are too long (time-wise) for me to consider. The last time I was in Bali, I took a cooking lesson, but this year, I will remain on the ship. However, I am encouraged to think that I could even THINK it might be possible for me to take a land tour!

Today, we were docked off the Island of Komodo, home to the ugly, slimy, dragons. It was a beautiful sunny day, but too hot to be in the sun, as we are very close to the equator.  My “therapy” this morning was to walk the entire length of the Promenade Deck! (using Nordic Walking sticks). I have a picture of Mark and me, on deck, as well as some of the background scenery. He pushes my wheelchair, in case I should need it, and I walk. At the end of the hour, I was exhausted, and haven`t done much else except sleep for most of the rest of the day.

I had to go to the Computer Room to get a printout of a “secure” message I had received from the broker; now I need their fax number in order to return the signed copy. It’s amazing how life has changed in such a few years. Fortunately, I learned to use the computer!

Some of the pictures I posted previously are deserving of some explanation. For instance, the one labeled Returning to the Ship: that was on the way back over the mountain with Trudy from Christchurch to the dock at Lyttleton,  just ahead of the resounding earthquake that struck two days later, and destroyed the whole area.

You must have recognized the Sydney Opera House; we were docked in front of it, and I took the picture from my verandah.  There are also pictures of Lynda and John Gaskill taken on land, that day. We had a lovely visit.

That was followed later in the afternoon by a visit with Julie Jacoby Sallick, who lives in Sydney. Julie is the granddaughter of my cousin Beverly  Flink Fink, who I haven’t heard from in years,  but whose daughter (Julie’s mother) happened to have contacted me a day or two before we got to Sydney asking if we might be related! We hastily arranged a meeting with Julie, who is married to an Australian,  just before the ship sailed, and I was able to meet her on the dock! We had a lovely visit, and she took notes about the family connection, etc. It was really a very pleasant surprise visit.

Since Jane had not yet been to Prego this year, our dining table group went there for dinner, one night, but I was disappointed because out waiter put much too much balsamico into my carpaccio; I should have sent it back, but instead I ate some of it.

The picture of Bob Deane and me is also an interesting story: Bob grew up near Assonet, a few miles from Taunton, MA which was my hometown. Our high schools were football rivals! One of the dance hosts, who also sits at our table, comes from Middleboro, which is where Boy (the fellow who worked for my father, and gave me driving lessons every Sunday) used to take me to practice. Proof of the “small world” syndrome.

There is also a picture of Sasa and me; Sasa is the butler assigned to my stateroom, and he helps in many ways, including serving me a 4 o’clock snack every afternoon. He has also arranged for me to have a driver for my wheelchair, so I don’t have to push it myself (like a walker), and he also sends my clean laundry to be pressed. He was also responsible for getting me my personal lounge chair for my balcony, which is very convenient. I hadn’t realized, in previous years,  that such a luxury existed.

Finally, there is the picture of me at the Jacuzzi; that was the first time that I actually immersed myself, this year, rather than just getting my feet wet. We are now docked off Bali, and I am still hoping I will be able to get into the swimming pool this afternoon. It’s hot enough, but quite cloudy.

In the meantime, I wasn’t able to upload the last pictures I downsized for that purpose; I can never remember from one time to the next how to do it! But before I sign off, you should know that I am walking more with less pain, so I am hopeful there is real progress (some of the time!).

Fond regards to all my readers. Ann