TODAY, (a day) (at a time, only)

Today, my Wife and I will go back to just being the two of us. Our youngest Son and His Wife, and Delightful Daughter will spend the day in our home. They have been here over a week, now.

Then tonight, they will leave via Air, and travel to Chicago to visit their other Grandmother in Illinos.

They will leave a hole in our wall of air.

SO, we will now turn to packing for our Alaska visit. We will leave on my 75th Birthday, and leave from the pier 71 in Seattle Harbor. sign in is about noon. If you have not traveled by boat, it is great.... just get up and eat, look around, and walk around, then eat. then dress for dinner and eat. Sometimes there is a card game at the game room. Sometimes a photographer pops up and takes your picture. Sometimes you meet others that you like, and want to see again. The big thing is that a boat tro[ os s;ee[omg and eating, and walking. This is an activity that costs, and costs..... but is so .... SO relaxing.

The boat is the Golden Princess, and is about 1-tenth of a Mile long. If you walk around the boat five times, you have walked a mile. Of course there is a jogging track, and a weight room, and an observation area. A restaurant, mambe three, and several bars, and small food prep areas. There is the ice cream vender. There is the never ending entertainmnet.. plays, movies, and paticipation events. The first thing is putting on the life saving gear.- then the lecture explaining how to survive. then taking off the gear, and going back to the cabin. There is a TV in each room. /and Air conditioned interior of the entire vessel. The 2nd day, we will be in port, and there are many things to go and see, that are free. Side events are organized, but they cost.

Yep, - we will have leasure for one week, where we can indulge our whim.

The boat has a library, and other interesting places... and, of course, the Casino. That is the room where the smoke is heavy, and no one looks at you as you pass through to get to the forward assembly theater in the bow. We will be on the Starboard side, about 1/4 of the way from the anchor. That means that it is 3/4 of the ship to the vista lounge on the 4th deck, or Deck D. the ship has about 14 decks.

Our daughter (really, an in law) told us last week that a ship of the Princess line had to go into port and get a dead Whale extracted from the stabilizer equipment near the front of the hull.

Apparently, it had been breaching, and had been hit, and held under the vessel, until it died,and then just hung wedged under the front of the ship. I wonder what the line did for the passengers?

When we get back, we intend to spend some time at Pike Place Market. Look at the shops,check out what there is in fresh fish, other foods, and the inevitable assortment of things to buy, that one has no use, and no reason to have.

It will no doubt be hot. As it has been for the past two weeks. And our home, not air conditoned, will seem unfriendly, and wonderful at the same time.

One thing, we will install some type of air cooler for the house. We have fans, but do not agree on their placement or thier best use. Ah, well!

One thing though, having our youngest granddaughter here has been the greatest event for this year, surpassing going to the doctors and seeing the hospital 911 in action in the Doctor's office treating a person whom had passed out.

And, my activity in the Genealogy Library will be resumed.... not that it will be a happy experience, no - the custodial staff is resurfacing the combination room, and the chemicals,even mild, will waife throughout the building, and offend anyone's nose- especially those whom have allergies.
The Director will probably close the library for a period, and, the odor may havedisapated = don't count on it! there is some talk that the library will be closed for a few weeks. If you beleave that, don't hold your breath.

Then before you know, the school kids will be in their favorite classrooms, and we will be on the allert to watch for them. (as if we did not already, all the time)

THEN, before we know it, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmass. And early next year, we do it all over, except for the boat trip.

Thank GOD that he is there, and loves each of us.

bye for now.