Barbara J. Hamby

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Three Days Before the Cruise

Packing and organizing for our cruise next week has been interspersed between other activities all this week. It’s easier for me to do it that way, than in one big frantic session when I’m sure to forget something important. Adapting to a new piece of luggage this trip is interesting. There are probably at least a dozen zippered compartments on this duffel bag on wheels. That’s not so bad on a cruise where you only unpack and pack once, but a land trip to different places might be quite a challenge.

While we’re driving to Seattle, I can psyche myself up for the mandatory lifeboat drill that usually occurs mid-afternoon before or after departure. Chinese fire drill is a more apt description. Senior citizens, myself excluded of course, are like kindergartners, and follow directions about as well as cats. Most cruise passengers during the school year are senior citizens. Enough said.

Today was my last structured writing class for this term. Over the summer, those class members who choose to, will meet every other week and read and critique without an instructor. The web site that’s been set up by a class member is very helpful to me. When I post poems or stories, I usually get useful feedback from classmates.

Tonight or in the morning, I’ll print out some memoir stories in triple space so I can work on editing them if I have spare time on the ship. With all the activities available, I may need to sit down just to put my feet up and could possibly do some editing then.

This is the first time I’ve actually made a list of what I’ve packed to keep with me. Having done that should guarantee that nothing will happen to my luggage. We keep ours with us when we board and disembark, so the risk is very slight. I’m not taking “Sunday Go-To-Meeting” clothes to Alaska, anyhow.