Hello, all,
Thanks to some personal issues, I have been away from this thread for a while. Due to the fact that a couple of truly serious situations have occurred we are opting to re-schedule this cruise for 2010 instead of 2009.
The most schedule-chaos causing event may be the unpredictable but seemingly constant schedule changing of my DD, currently active duty/deployed with the USN (I take her young son when she deploys for any extended periods of time), the most serious issue(s) may be financial (unemployed and in a financial bind thanks in large part to the death of our DD) but the scariest is my DDIL was recently diagnosed with melanoma. She was diagnosed just a year and a week after the death of our DD (technically my step-, mentioned above) from this deadly disease, which certainly elevates the "scare factor" for us - as if the disease is not scary enough on its' own.
I am sorry for the late notice as I was slated to play the game as well. If it creates a problem of any sort, I would be happy to send on my trinkets to someone willing to deliver them.
I am also sorry that I will miss the experience of cruising with a group of lively, wonderful people I have come to "know" on these threads. I hope if the BOBers decide to cruise again the same time next year, you will consider adding me to the list of interested cruisers. I hope someone will continue to send me "breadcrumbs" so I can find the current thread so I can continue to visit when possible. I look forward to your trip reports and lovely pictures, and also hope you know I will be there "in spirit".
Thanks to everyone for the all the welcomes since I arrived, and a special thanks to those that reached out just that little bit further and sent me pm updates as I drifted from these threads.
Safe voyages to you~
Laurie