Transporting Back in Time

 So this morning, I'm driving to the school and on the 70's channel on Sirius Radio pops up Chicago, Saturday in the Park.

Immediately I'm in my high school graduation hat and gown, walking toward the football field for the commencement exercises.  My last name then was Yori so I was 440th person in line. There were 4 walking behind me. Things were a bit boring as we waited. Zimmerman and Zephir were clowning around singing and pretending to be horns. Actually they were pretty good with making the trumpet sounds with their lips.  As we waited and processed, they performed Saturday in the Park by Chicago. I wish I had known all those years ago that those days were among the best days of my life. So glad God let me be transported back in time today.

"People reaching, people touching
A real celebration
Waiting for us all
If we want it, really want it
Can you dig it? Yes, I can
And I've been waiting such a long time
For the day"

Here's the Youtube link to Chicago's Saturday in the Park:  https://youtu.be/yXNAGgCxBSA

It's been along time since I babbled.....

 ....but here we are....I'm a lot older than the last time I did. 11 years to be exact....This July I'll be 70....WTH! Where did the time go? In one of my more insane moments I decided to buy a miniature poodle puppy. What 69 year old woman in her right mind gets a puppy? I named him Angelo. 

He's named for my father's brother who died at 6 weeks old from the Spanish Flu.  My Dad used to take my grandmother once a month to the cemetery to visit the grave of Angelo and her stillborn infant, Giovanni.  Just before Dad died I took him to the cemetery to visit the grave of his baby brothers. So Angelo (Italian for Angel) is not just an angel to me after the loss of my beloved Luigi the Cockapoo but a nod and tribute to my Dad. 

watching the water...

Its back home...a day of relaxation. Sleeping in. Watching the water go by. Slots tournament. Watching the water go by. Shopping onboard. Watching the water go by.  Gambling. Watching the water go by......good bye hot humid weather and back to the not so hot humid weather. I will miss the aqua color water and the sandy beaches...until next time.

Grand Bahama Island

Early Day and a short day to boot. Todays excursion was to the Garden of Groves. It was beautiful with 4 waterfalls, a labrynth, lots of ponds and beautiful birds and vegetation. We learned about a healing plant/tree, Neem. In fact I bought some insect repellant, tea and a variety of sample products. Bahamians use lots of plants for healing and special purposes. That was a theme on all 3 islands.

I always buy one piece of small art where ever I go. So I bought a piece of art from a local artist. He was selling his matted prints so cheap. I gave him more money than he wanted for it. He said he sold them cheap because he needed to do that to sell them. But I argued that paying for the print, matting it and packaging doesnt  leave him much profit. He was so talented and kind. I hope he sells out all his art.

Our bus driver and tour guide Al was a hoot. I enjoyed his jokes. We had a really nasty lady on the trip. She kept saying he should tell us all this crap so many times. Later when we were at the Garden, a young Asian woman was translating for her mother. The nasty lady told her to be quiet. I wanted to jump over the seat and strangle her. Later I offered to take a photo of the Asian family and I apologized for that womans rudeness. I was so embarrassed about her behavior.

On the way back we went to the Port Lacaya shopping center. We only had a hour so we didn't shop. We decided to eat lunch instead.

Now back to the ship for shopping and dinner at the Steak House with the group from the club.

Half Moon Cay

We took the most awesome eco tour today.  It was in the lagoon by boat. The tour guide was very knowledgeable. Glenn agreed that it was one of the best we have been on.  Stupid me brought one ticket fortoday and one for tomorrow. Fortunately it was on an island that belongs to the cruise lines so they were able to print a duplicate.

After the tour we were dropped off to the island barbecue pavilions. The food was very good. There were roosters and chickens running all over begging for hand outs. At one point Glenn was going to get something to drink and I was eating. All of a sudden I hear people hollaring. A rooster had jumped on the seat of the picnic table and was about to eat Glenns lunch.  After lunch we headed back to the boat. Tomorrow Grand Bahama Island.

Grand Turk

Happy Birthday to me.  Up early and off the ship for our excursion. We were taken around the island via an open bus.  Grank Turk is one of 30 islands and cays. It is not the largest nor the most populated but it is the Capital so there are lots of government agencies there.

During our tour, we saw a replica of Friendship 7,  the capsule John Glenn landed in only 10 miles off the island. We visited the lighthouse and went off road to a beach where they had submerged a kayak and used it for a touch tank for anemones, conch, sand dollars and other aquatic life. The attendant demonstrated how to open a conch and sliced the poor thing up for an afternoon snack. Glenn ate some but I like my food dead and cooked so I passed. I just went off taking photos.

Wild donkeys were everywhere looking for a scratch and handout.

Back in the vehicle, we drove by their "hospital" and I thank God for my blessings. We stopped by a little shopping area. Most of the houses were nice some were obviously destroyed by hurricanes. They use the same numbering system our government uses when the search houses after hurricanes and they so spray paint them on the exterior walls. It made me sad to see a death count.

I counted 4 churches..one Catholic. 2 Angelican Episcopol and one 7th Day Adventist. And besides 2 elentary schools there was a high school and a community college. The CC had been a US Government NOAA facility.  We stopped at a little local market place. I didn't buy anything.

Then we were returned to the cruise center at the dock where I bought a necklace, earring, bracelet and we ate lunch at Margaritaville.

When we returned to the ship I found a wonderful birthday cake sent to me by Charmaine and Klem. What a nice surprise.

Day 3

Another wonderful day at sea...moving along to our islands and enjoying it. I spent most of the day reading and just relaxing. We did go to bingo and I was just one number away. Oh well.

We.went to a couple of sales but I only bought a new Nook holder.

In the evening we watched a show and tonight we decided just to eat in the Mermaid Grille instead of sit down dinner. Off to bed early because tomorrow is an island day and I need to get up early.