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Published: August 8th 2007
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In The Airport
After Dan gave me a ride to the airport, the least I could do was give him a ride around the terminal. Saying goodbye was so hard. After only about 1 1/2 hours of sleep, immigration, showering and final packing, I went from cabin to cabin, knocking on the doors to say goodbye to friends who insisted we couldn't say it last night. After the thank yous and I love yous and best wishes, there's only goodbye left. And it is so hard to say when you treasure somebody so much and you don't know when or if you'll see them again. And once the goodbye was said, I'd have to turn and walk away from their cabin. And then the tears would start. And then I'd reach another cabin and do it all over again.
I'm going to treasure these people so much. Sharon's genuine care for me. Cam's general love for people. Marvin's soft smile - one I know I'll see soon, this summer when we'll rendez-vous in Niagara Falls. Phil's constant smile and laughter. Ronald's admiration and encouragement - how he hugged me so tightly he picked me right up off the ground and swung me from side to side, my feet swinging awa. Ricky's energy, teasing and sly grin. Michael's ease. Emma Lou's shared passion for children, art,
play and teaching. Sam's frankness. Jackie's sweetness.
Bronie, Emma and Michael came up to the lobby to sit with me and the others who were leaving too - Eddie, Andrew, Darnell. Bronie and I didn't stop holding each other and hugging. Emma held my hand. I adore those two girls and they've always said that they adore me too. I remember back around the halfway point of my contract when friends were leaving and I was devestated. I still adore and treasure those friends who left months ago, weeks ago. But how lucky and I to have found more beautiful people to treasure!
Dan, the club O2 director who is supposed to be taking over from me with Michelle (though all of that is up in the air and messed up now), came to pick Michelle and I up (Dan's on vacation and lives near Tampa). We went out for lunch, did a few errands for Michelle and the two of them took me to the airport. Some final laughs and goofiness. And then they were gone.
I've been spending hours now here in the airport on the computer, working to update my blog, sorting photos. Jordi
Michelle and the Panda
Michelle always says she (or someone else) is a something-panda. Like the last couple of days I've been a sad panda. So we found her a panda. appeared on MSN. Her and Gavin's round the world adventure is coming to a close too. We fumbled to being to talk about everything we've seen and experienced since we last saw each other in Toronto at the closing of the Wax Wing show. That feels so long ago now.
How will I begin to tell people all of this? There's too much to try to summarize into a casual conversation.
After I'd been at the airport for a couple hours, I looked up to see Andrew in front of me. I was delighted to see a friend. He seemed just as delighted to see me. Eddie appeared a moment later. And so I had one final dose of shipboard friends before they were whisked off for their flight.
And now here I am, waiting for my boarding call. I don't want to be here. I want to be with my friends on the ship. I want the last round of fun that I've been cheated out of. Or I just want to be home already, with my family, with Kristin, with Laura, with Brooks, with friends. I want to be amongst people I love.
I
Andrew in Wait
Not the most flattering picture of Andy :) feel sad. Scared. Alone. This just wasn't supposed to end this way. Since I learned I was leaving, I haven't allowed myself to feel sad. Tried to focus on good, do what I have to do, keep extremely busy. Now that I've stopped, that everything is done and I'm here and alone, I just feel sad. I'm just fraustrated that this adventure has to end this way.
I am delighted by all that this experience has been. It has been beyond anything I could have imagined. I simply wanted to travel. And travel I have! The places I've seen, the things I've done in so many beautiful ports. It astounds me.
But I did not and could not have thought of everything else that this experience has been. It's the ship, the life there that has effected me so greatly. It will take me some time to truly understand just how I've been effected by ship life.
Take off time.
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Sarah Willett
Another Cheesy Quote...
"For those who lived it, no explanation is needed. For those who did not, no explanation is enough."