Alaska cruise 7 - The Travel Bug

Wednesday, July 15

Mamaw has always wanted to travel. I asked her what's the farthest she's ever been from home prior to this trip and she said she went to New York when she was about 13. She also went to D.C. in 1985. She called that "a few years ago."

So I guess she's had the itch to travel more since 1945, minus the D.C. trip. Mom gets the same kind of restlessness, as does Dad, so I blame my travel bug on them.

Papaw, on the other hand, is a self-proclaimed homebody. "I think it's 'cause he's bashful," Mamaw said. He stays busy doing things, whether helping his brother in the country, mowing the yard, tending to the vegetable garden or watering the flowers, but doesn't like to stray far from home.

... Which is why I'm really glad we're on this trip. Before the cruise even came up, I told Mamaw about a year ago that I was going to take her on a trip somewhere. Well she's ended up taking me, but I'm honored to be invited and so happy to spend this time together. I'd love to go on extended trips like this with everyone in the family -- Papaw, Mom, Dad, Seth, Emily, etc.

Living away, (although not that far), I miss out on a lot of things and feel like there's so much I don't know about my family sometimes. Thank goodness Mom fills me in. She's my Tennessee newspaper.

I also feel like I miss out on some lessons all these people could teach me. I've tried to go home more this year, but it's still not the same as living nearby. If Pete and I move away, I'll probably see them even less. This is where I wish our families lived in the same state.

I'm getting off track. ... Today has been pretty restful. We didn't have to get up early again, but had a good time on a Misty Fjords and Wilderness Explorer excursion. Our ship docked in Ketchikan, then we took a boat about an hour out to more untouched land -- misty fjords just like the brochure said. We also saw a bunch of harbor seals. I bet they'd make good pets if you had the space.

While on the boat, we got complimentary hot chocolate and either clam chowder or vegetarian chili. I had the chili because it smelled too good to pass up.

I slept most of the way back, then we rushed through a few gift shops looking for one more souvenir. We only had 40 minutes before we had to be back on the ship and this was our last stop in Alaska.

Even though I've passed the opportunity up several times now, I'm kicking myself for not getting the Alaska shirt I wanted. I didn't want to spend the money, but it was cheap and now I keep seeing people on deck wearing it. It was my favorite color, too. :(

We again went to the Rotterdam Dining Hall for dinner and I'm really going to miss the ladies we've been sitting with. I'm going to look the girls up on Facebook.

Before another Bible study started, we went back to the room. Mamaw had left her glasses there and we found them on the "eyes" of probably the only moose we'll see here. The staff always comes in to tidy the rooms and add different towel creatures during dinner. This was by far the best.

Still not the best part of the day, though. That goes to the midnight chocolate buffet. Could God have created anything greater? With violin and cello music in the background, Mamaw and I made our way through plate after plate of cakes, cheesecakes, truffles and chocolate covered strawberries. Chefs added ice sculptures, a chocolate fountain and fruit fountain to the display. We sat with Toni and Heidi (the two other ladies from dinner) and Mamaw finally got a picture with her new friend and the friend's daughter. The lady's last name is Hutcheson, but I don't know her first name.

By the way, Mamaw has officially misplaced the most items I've ever seen in the time we've been here. I think it's because we have so many papers to keep up with and all our luggage and clothes are crammed in the closets. She's "found" three things she thought she lost in one of her suitcases. (I keep telling her to let me get the suitcase off the shelf because it's heavy, but she insists she can do it. "I'm big and strong," she told me earlier this week. "I'm not sure about the big part," I said.)

Last stop -- Victoria!