rock the boat

It has been a long time and there is lots to tell. specifically i am finally losing weight on a doctor's prescription after 10 months and a few failed attempts i think i found combination that is working. total pounds gone = 22 since mar 01 2017. I got an A in both classes last semester and i am finally beginning some marketing coursework this semester. two months ago I got a new to me used 2010 GMC Terrain with AWD leather interior sunroof backup camera MP3 and about 70k miles and so far i love it.

Now onto heavier subject matter. we just returned from a cruise and if you follow my facebook feed you know some of the next few items i am about to cover. here is the play by play from our trip for those who wish to know how it all happened.

Jan 21 2018 sunday woke up 5 am, flew out of MPLS 830 am landed Miami 1 pm checked into our hotel on south beach. we were hungry so we got some food and a huge bahama mama. walked to Walgreens for water and diet coke then laid on the beach and swam in the ocean. watched the sunset. went back to the room to change then walked to a sports bar to eat and watch the vikings. after that walked to a bar and went to bed. 

Jan 22 2018 Monday had breakfast and grabbed an uber from hotel to the port. Waited in line and finally boarded the ship about 1 pm. We wandered around the ship for a couple of hours until our rooms were ready around 4 and then we left port about 5. Our luggage showed up a little later. We had the unlimited beverage (includes soda beer wine liquor and discounted specialty coffee drinks) and premium dining (includes 3 fine dining experiences by reservation while onboard) packages. Monday night on the ship we went to a Brazilian steakhouse like fogo de chao that was excellent then we went to see a variety show with singers dancers and a comedian that was OK. 

Jan 23 2018 Tuesday morning we ate breakfast then I found a deck chair in the sun by the pool where I laid for an hour. Then we bought passes to the spa on the ship so we could go anytime we wanted for the entire cruise. I sat in the steam room and the hot tub then i took a nap. When i woke up we went to eat at an Asian fusion restaurant called jasmine that was very good. After that Aaron decided to go back to the room to read while I went to the casino where I won $75 on penny slots.              

This is when all the fun stopped….The ship was passing a few miles off the coast of Cuba and even though we had no data/no text onboard because it’s very very expensive, a message came through on Aaron’s phone that said “Pray for Moe.” That’s his ex-boss and friend from work. Alpha male, macho man, body builder type, lives alone, has a cat but never wanted anyone to know he had a soft side. Aaron idolizes this man. They eat lunch together every day. They looked out for each other. Moe was 41 and Muslim and he never had a gay friend. Aaron never had a Muslim friend. They learned a great deal from each other. Moe had a commanding presence that made people feel safe. He had been a prison guard for a short time but he found it boring. I had only met him a couple time for a few minutes but when Aaron got this text he was frantic. He started reaching out to people from work saying “what is this text?” and then he learned Moe had been found unconscious at the office then rushed to the hospital. Only an hour or so after he had gotten that first text he got a call saying Moe had died. From the flu. Because he refused to see a doctor. It was a senseless loss. He was all muscle but he could not fight this. So Aaron was crying and screaming and we are floating out in the middle of the ocean all night. He said he wanted to go home right away. I went to the onboard guest services desk and told them we would have to disembark at Cozumel the next morning and get the first flight back to Minneapolis. They asked us to come back at 7 am and they would let us use their computers to buy airline tickets. 

Jan 24 2018 Wednesday -The same day one way airline tickets were very very expensive. I don’t know if I will get back any part of the cruise cost or the original airline tickets to come back Friday but I will try. I did not have trip insurance. An immigration officer met us onboard, we packed very fast, and he led us off the ship to a van then he drove us to immigration where we were booked and documented. Then he drove us to the airport where we waited 6 hours. There was one direct flight from Cozumel to Minneapolis that day and a few open seats available. We landed MPLS 8 pm Wednesday and a friend picked us up at the airport and drove us home where his friends who had known Moe were waiting for us. We all hugged and cried and had some beers then I was finally able to take a shower and try to sleep. It was all a big blur. 

Jan 25 2018 Thursday morning our dog Kevyn that we love very much was making noise as thought she was in pain without being touched so we took her into the vet where she was examined and prescribed pain medication. This cost a ton of money as well. I slept almost all day except a trip to the store late in the day. 

Jan 26 2018 Friday we had lunch with his friend and Aaron got the flu shot. The funeral was that night at 4 and that was very very emotional but healing and positive and a celebration of his life. Aaron has never lost anyone ever except for pets so he never felt this kind of pain. It was sudden and this man was so young and he did not get to say goodbye.  I was so worried about Aaron I would cry every time Aaron would cry as thought I could feel the same pain. After the funeral a group went out for a meal and some beers and they all hugged and made toasts and honored Moe and we intend to host a party at our house for everyone from his office in a couple weeks so that we can all have some fun and get to know each other under better circumstances. We both were able to sleep better that night. 

Jan 27 2018 Saturday I met with my friends downtown for brunch and Aaron stayed home-for the first time that took my mind away from everything that had happened. I got home and a long time friend brought over a meal and some kind words and some laughs and she made us feel even better. We went to sleep early.

Jan 28 2018 Sunday I usually go to church and I felt I needed to be there more than ever but we have this 16 year old cat who did not appear to be eating. I knew the time was near that we should put her down even though the timing could not be worse. I cried some more and then I went to church which made me feel so much better about everything but I made an appointment and I put my cat down yesterday afternoon. This was another expense. I know it was the right thing to do and I am at peace with it now but it was really hard.

So now I just want to move on and move forward and laugh and sing and dance and smile again because the last few days have been hard. My spirit is strong and we will be OK – we have lots of great people holding us up. You should feel free to ask me any questions that you may have. I just don’t want to have to retell this story over and over.