Vets, and I'm not talking about Dog Docs

 

November 21 2024

On the ocean

It’s about 2pm and there isn’t really anything much to write about. Days at sea are just a lost 24 hours in my life. Though for all my bitching about losing the overnight in Osaka, it is really nice not to be on a long walk, like yesterday. Even with being a wimpy tourist and catching taxis, I still got in 8 miles walking. My feet and body were tired and a nice break today.

Awoke at 5a and could not convince myself that it was time to sleep somewhat longer. So with my nose at the level of my blanket I watched the sky lighten and eventually become day. Still those covers felt so good, I decided to stay a bit longer in their embrace.

Up to 13 for coffee and a quick chat with a couple from Myrtle Beach. I asked what they did in Osaka, she said they went shopping and had a heck of a good time. I didn’t say is, but “Shit lady, you could have stayed in Florida and brought up AliExpress on your computer and saved you the trip!”. She was sweet so I didn’t fall into sarcastic Theresa.

Came back, took a shower and went to breakfast.

I love Craps, the dice game. I don’t understand the odds on many of the bets, but I understand enough to not make totally stupid bets. A year or so I Googled “What is the slowest way to lose at craps?” Which is exactly my goal. I can not count on winning, but like the game. The thing about the game is that when there are others at the table, you are all invested in the same roll each time the dice are thrown. It is a small community of yelling and sighing in unison. Playing at a table alone, just isn’t the same. More a trial of the odds. I am a low limit roller. I set my limit, buy that many chips and use them to place bets. If I win, the winnings go into my left hand pocket and when the original stake is gone, I walk away.

The other night I was playing alone and when I quit my left pocket was fuller than my right pocket started. Cool ! Not the norm, but it was happy with that. What it did do for me was give me some pieces of round clay with a $5 embossed on them. If you take them to a window on the ship they will give you a picture of Abraham Lincoln in exchange.

At breakfast a server who has gone out of his way to know my likes and dis’s and my name took my order. When he brought it I handed him one of those clay discs. He looked at it, and fondled it, and finally he realized what it was !! Funny on the last trip every night the casino was open, this trip the casino is open sporadically and at odd times. So I guess chips are lesser known, where the other trip they were recognized at once.

Back at the room I finished the morning necessities and took another shower and sat by the window and watched the whitecaps.

Closing in on 11 I put my shoes back on and left for the veterans meeting. When I came on board there was the envelope that had a bunch of ‘welcome veteran’ stuff in it, including that Challenge Coin I gave Richard. Richard and Michael (of Michael and Mike) are both retired military, though one is from the USA and one is from Germany. It is their identity. My veteran identity only comes out when it might give me a discount. Otherwise it is just 4 a job I had for 4 years, that’s got me to see more of the world than I would have. We all went to the veterans appreciation meeting, got our picture taken and listened it other vets talk. It was nice that they were so self proud for doing their bit, and that the ship saw merit in their service.

Back to the room for more wave watching, and then up to 13 and there was Richard, Michael and Mike. Mike brought out pictures of his quilting. We oh’ed and ah’ed at them, me more than the rest of the table. I listened intently, asked what I thought were insightful questions to his hobby. I showed his a pictures of a very fine embroidered Kimono that I have hanging in my bedroom. Figuring were are brother and sister in fabric. “Ya, that’s nice. My son has a robe he wears ……..” I changed mental channel on him and realized that conversation for him was - My interests and then will listen to you, until I get to add my story or interests - That Paul Simon lyric “People listening, without hearing’

It’s now 3pm

The Canadian women who had flight delays getting here and were met with indifference on arrival, have received the proper ass kissing by the cruise line. They get VIP escorts through the passport checks, and have been comped dinner at one of the $peciality dining restaurants tonight. They seem quite appeased now.

The other day I had a near calamity. I pulled out my magic ship plastic card and presented it to get no a bus. I saw a flicker on my right, and thought I’d take a look what it was I dropped. Probably some pocket litter. Well it could be pocket litter if you call my main debit card litter. I did have to do a slight low crawl under the bus to retrieve it, but it sure felt great back in my pocket.

I might have more to add later, but for now — see ya - miss ya