Ok, here is the next installment. I've actually had work to do today, then there was all the pressure from WendyGirl, and then I found out LillyGator was following along and I got all flustered....(thanks for all the encouragement)
The Cast
Me Dad/Husband/Raconteur
Cheryll Mom/Wife
Samantha 7 yr old Center of the Known Universe
Wed been up since 6AM.
We were tired.
We were hungry.
We were dressed alike.
None of that mattered now because were walking the plank!
Ok, thats not very funny, but my daughter LOVED the thought of walking the plank, any plank would do even a gang plank.
(
Ya know, the word, plank is just not one you use in everyday conversation much. Hey, Bill, careful you dont run afoul of the boss. If you dont get that report in by 5, youll have to walk the plank. I know it could also be a plank of wood, but who calls a board a plank anymore? Its an odd word, really. It doesnt even look right: PLANK.
Look at it again:
PLANK.
Im starting not to trust it.)
Yikes, Im back.
For those of you who have never gone on a
Disney Cruise, it hard to describe the sheer giddiness of those first few steps into the hallway. Of course you are immediately presented with not one BUT 2 photo opportunities.
Which backdrop would you like?
How about one with just the Princess?
Ok
More smirking/compliments on our matching outfits.
I wonder what would happen if I accidentally left this shirt on our balcony and it just blew into the ocean, I thought. I immediately decide not to do that, not only because I didnt have an alternate place to sleep when we returned home and Cheryll kicked me out of the house, but also because it might fly onto the verandah of another room and some wife will find it and force some other unsuspecting husband into wearing it while she pulled out some piece of clothing of hers that matched it EXACTLY.
Im really spinning off into some inexplicable tangents today.
Sorry.
The moment had arrived. We could see into the ship as we waited our turn to be announced. We heard the Please welcome the BLAH BLAH family echoing in front of us and the round of applause that followed.
We stepped in, and a beautiful, blonde Australian woman smartly dressed in a crisp, white officers uniform asked our name and then said Welcome the Wilhelm Family!
And one crew member applauded.
Where was our ovation?
Was it the outfits?
No, its just that every other of the very few families let in before us were talking with the crew in the lobby, so only our attendant (yet another stunningly attractive woman) was clapping. No biggie, really.
The atrium is spectacular, but you dont get to look much. You're quickly ushered (or herded) down the hall toward Parrot Cay to eat.
Make no mistake; the first thing they want you to do is eat.
Eat, I say.
Eat now!
As hard they tried to usher us into Parrot Cay, I knew from my hours on the DIS Boards that the same food was to be had up on deck 9 and that we could eat outside.
I exerted my right to take the elevator up and away we went.
The glass elevators on the 3rd floor gave us a marvelous view of the ships interior. As we rose past the 4th floor, Samantha immediately spied the Oceaneers Club façade. She wanted to go there right then.
We convinced her that maybe we should eat first.
We had been concerned early in the planning process about Samanthas interest in the OC. Being basically a single child (her older brother is 24 and lives on his own) and a spoiled one at that (I know this might come as shock to read a parent actually admit to spoiling his child), Sam is very shy of strange situations, especially social ones. We hardly ever use a babysitter, and when we do, its Grandma and Grandpa. She likes to be with us and usually ends up in bed with us no matter where she falls asleep. (For those who are now shaking their heads let me say 2 things 1) If she wants to sleep with Mom and Dad, Im going to let her. It wont be too long before she wants nothing to do with either of us and 2) uh, I dont have a second point. It just seemed like I should have had another one).
So I had spent quite a good deal of time talking with her about the Club and showing her pictures and video.
A lot of time.
The work must have paid off because she was PUMPED to go the OC, and my wife and I were PUM
er,..looking forward to some time alone too ( yeah, that word wasnt going to have the same meaning in the second half of that sentence)
A few hand wipes later, we were in the buffet line, and I was cursing having packed all my media stuff into my carry on as it was now VERY heavy and awkward. I went out to stake us a table and put down the bags.
Heres a tip to those of you planning a cruise: You dont need that much stuff in your carry on. You just dont. Trust me.
I was aware suddenly that my allergies were starting to flare. I was congested rather quickly. Ah, no worries. Itll be fine.
Right?
I got a table at the very end of the ship.
(Bow? Stern? I know it's aft.)
ANYWAY, it was a hot but beautiful day, from our seat you could literally see for miles out into the ocean. On the horizon was on of the coolest things I had ever seen: Cape Canaveral! I was a kid during the 60s and early 70s so I have a huge fascination with NASA and the Apollo Space Program in particular. Ive always wanted to visit the Kennedy Space Center, but it has been made plain to me that I am the only one in my family that would enjoy it.
I felt like a little boy staring off into the distance and seeing the launch platform
.
Im back.
Cheryll and Samantha came out with their trays, and I went back to get mine.
Ive read mixed reviews of the Opening Buffet, but I found it to be excellent!
There was an obscene amount of food and all of it good. I got shrimp with a brandy sauce, a tuna salad wrap, cheese, and oh man, I cant remember all I got. It was good. And I was outside on a really big boat with a view of the place the Apollo Missions were launched from!
There were very few people outside except for the table next to us with MomSully and her family and friends. Another mini-DIS Meet ensued.
There was only one problem.
We had been on the ship for a good 15 to 20 minutes, and there was no rum laden fruit drink in front of me!
Seconds ticked by as Cheryll and I scanned the area for someone with a tray full of tropical delight. Then, just before a panic set in, I spied him! A young man in an obvious servers uniform was entering the outside dining area with a tray full of glasses filled with what could only be the nectar we were so desperately searching for. I saw fruit skewered on a plastic toothpick protruding from the top of the Hurricane-style souvenir glasses.
YES!
He bent to take an order to a table near us.
I told myself and my parched wife to be patient.
He would come to us, and we could officially begin our cruise.
I saw the beads of moisture drip down the sides of the glass that we take home as a reminder of all that is good in the world. A golden ray of sunshine enveloped him as he reached to hand a lucky cruiser their first Bahama Mama of the day.
Then, something unspeakable happened.
The tray tipped slightly. The server went to correct the balance, but miscalculated. It teetered to the other side.
Drinks slid and then
. THE ENTIRE TRAY OF DRINKS SPILLED TO THE DECK!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
(Camera pulls away from above Brad as screams to the heavens with arms outstretched)
With a tear in my eye I turned toward my wife to tell her the awful news.
She had a Bahama Mama in hand.
I noticed another server had come to our table behind me, served Cheryll, and he was now asking me if I wanted one.
Uh, sure, Please. Thank you.
Would you like to make that a double?
(Pause)
Absolutely.
I had intended to write up until dinner on the first night, but it looks like Ive just written 1500 words on the first half hour.
Im going to take my medication and write more tomorrow, and I PROMISE to be more succinct.
loving hubby (of 20 yrs) idea of matching outfits is CAMO! and YES! they do have a catalog! and yes i do have to politely turn him down year after year ... (oh honey, spend it on yourself ... i don't need new clothes)
And, I've never said anything about wearing matching outfits! I do have my limits (painted toes notwithstanding). 
first of all FatherForce i apologize for the "pressure" (you see, our youngest is 15 nearly 16 and my house is clean and i don't wanna shave my legs again) AND i enjoy your writing style Immensely! (WIV: hugely, vastly, incalculably) 
smart man!
scouts honor.
i can't believe i am actually looking forward to a monday! ... 
monday! 
