Holidays at Sea...

Christmas is a time for traditions. Now I knew this year would be filled with “new” traditions since I wasn’t going to be at home, but let me step onto my soapbox for a minute.

We had “Holiday Story Time” on board during the last few cruises and took the kids down to the atrium to hear them. At this little event people told the stories of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. So there I am, sitting with the children, listening to origin story of Hanukkah and how the oil burned for eight days straight becoming a miracle of faith for the Jewish people. Then we move on to the origin story of Kwanzaa and what each day represents for African Americans and how it’s all about family, faith, and being true to yourself. Then we get to Christmas. This woman comes down the stairs in a red sweater and a poinsettia scarf and I’m all prepared to hear, “It was in those days that Caesar Augustus made a decree that all people should be counted...” but what comes out of her mouth???? SANTA ON A CRUISE SHIP. Excuse me?! You’re going to go through full on origin stories of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but when we get to Christmas you give us Santa on a cruise ship?! Fail. Fail fail fail. FAIL! So there I sat, seething through this ridiculous tale of the Chief Holiday Officer and Santa giving a little girl a bell when she was little so one day blah blah blah she grows up and SURPRISE she is the woman telling us the story. Last time I checked, Christmas is NOT ABOUT SANTA! If you’re going to tell origin stories of every other Holiday, you should do the same for CHRISTMAS! In case you’re confused, the REAL story of Christmas can be found in the Book of Luke, Chapter 2! Bah!

Ok, stepping off my soapbox.

The day as a whole was long and rough. We were at sea, so everyone is on board doing Christmas things and yadda yadda yadda. I started and ended the day in Andy’s Room telling children not to climb on Rex. Yup. Merry Christmas to me!

New Years was interesting. This time I started and ended the day on Wash, which means I was guarding the bathroom from the children and saying things like, “Did you wash your hands? What color is the soap? Wrong. Go back and wash your hands.” When I say start and end, please know I mean that literally. On New Years Eve at midnight, I was ringing in the new year next to a toilet stall asking the last remaining child if they needed help pulling up their pants. When January 1, 2012, ended at 11:59pm , I had just finished asking a child if they’d washed their hands. Yeah.

I did make it up to the deck party after work on New Years Eve. I got to see most of my Traditions buddies and my friends I’ve made on board. We all spent the first few hours of the year under the stars, with wind blowing in our hair, at sea. Not too shabby.

In other news, it is 65 days and 14 hours until I come home!!!! Yay!!
I’m slowly starting to plan what I’m doing while on vacation. At this point in time I’m planning to travel! Destinations are still in the works, but it’s gonna happen. Certain people have been informed. :)

Now that the Holidays are over, my homesickness has abated somewhat. I still miss everyone, but it’s not as in my face now. In fact, yesterday I was standing in the ocean on Snorkel Beach 2 and thinking to myself, “I bet it’s snowing at home...” Not gonna lie, I’m glad I don’t have to deal with the nasty ice and snow that hits us hard in January. I’m cool with snow until January 2, when it needs to be Spring. Winter should only last through New Years.

Oh! I’ve decided that Captain Hook is amazing. All I’m gonna say is, he is my new favorite character and I look forward to every program he is a part of. I’m also a big fan of Jack Sparrow and Goofy. Love them.

Speaking of Goofy... thanks to our Animation Antics program we do with the kids, I’m now pretty good at drawing both Goofy and Mickey Mouse. I will show you my mad skills when I come home. I can also draw a pretty fabulous Mike Wasowski. The things I learn at work...

Finally... Dear Parents, Please potty train your children at an appropriate age. It is extremely awkward to change a dirty pull-up on a four/five year old. Thanks.

Love to all and Happy New Year!!