And Now We Are Home 4/2/20

According to our original itinerary, The Insignia was to be cruising the Atlantic Ocean off the Western Coast of Africa. This was to be three entire days of cruising from Togo to Cape Town. What might have been days filled with bridge lessons, knitting, wonderful “stories” by Doctor Sherry, lushous meals, dancing, listening to the fabulous string quartet, and comradary with our new found friends we are now spending like everyone else, Staying Home and Staying Safe. The yarn shop is definitely not deemed an essential business thus has closed until this madness ends.

It was pointed out to me that in my post “And Then It Was Over” I seemed more than a little bitter. Guilty as charged. I was hugely disappointed. I have perfected the skill of seeing the world and all things in it strictly from my perspective and in my weaker moments it seemed like some kind of perhaps communist plot specifically to ruin my trip which I had been planning and looking forward to for almost two years. Finally when the news kept reporting that this, that and even The Olympics were being cancelled due to this virus, I came to grips with my disappointment. Hundreds of thousands of people are suffering far worse than having their trip of a lifetime scrubbed. Besides, we have soooo many, many wonderful memories from that portion we were able to visit. In retrospect, the officials at Oceania did absolutely the best thing for us all. Else we might have been like those poor souls on the Vaandam. God help them!

Our self imposed quarantine has ended almost without incident. Tommy did have a fever one day about a week into the quarantine and succeeded in getting authorization to be tested. To our great relief, the test results finally came back negative. It was suggested that I too should be tested, however, due to the shortage of available tests and my total lack of symptoms, my request was declined. Having heard Trump’s description of the test itself, I was not terribly disappointed. I did continue to isolate myself from the public and my beloved families. Our quarantine ended just as the Stay Home and Stay Safe order was issued. This, my friends, is the proper thing to do at this time. Yes, it will test us. We are social animals. We thrive on human contact, but we must learn other means to fulfill those basic needs. Enough preaching. You all know this already. The real reason I recommenced this blog is to reestablish some contact. Verizon notified me Sunday that my useage was up 79% from the prior week. No kidding. Good thing I have an unlimited data plan.

When I last wrote about our excursions, we were in Uruguay with my favorite guide, Vincento. He was soo proud of his homeland. To me it was the unexpected Jewel of our trip. He seemed to actually live each day as if there are to be no more. A lesson we all must learn. Among other lessons learned from Vincento is the difference in tourist and travelers. Forgive me if I included this in my previous blog, but I believe it bears repeating: A tourist comes, takes pictures then goes home. A traveler comes to learn. His parting words to me were “Keep doing what you are doing.” Now with this virus, I worry about what is to become of him and others like him. In each of the countries we visited, tourism was no less than the third leading industry. At that, their economies were suffering. Can only imagine how desperate they may become if this thing goes on and on.

After a very interesting tour of Montevideo we were taken by bus around the bay, locally referred to as the mouth of a river, to LaBaguala Estancia Retreat. Here we were greeted by Gauchos (saw none in Argentina), dancers in coustume, a band then treated to performances by all the above prior to a delicious meal of their best barbequed beef and all the trimmings. Some of the dancers were to Tommy’s delight somewhat less than fully clothed. He did resist the urge to smooth the snag in one of the ladies’ fishnet hose. Pictures to follow someday, perhaps.

Other days were equally funfilled and perhaps I shall relate more of our experiences out of boredom if nothing else. In the last couple of weeks I have reflected on why this trip, short as it was, so far surpassed any of my other trips. It has been my good fortune to visit Europe some. Those trips were wonderful. Last Spring’s Tulip Time Trip was fantastic. Loved Italy! All of it. Well maybe not Milan so much, but even it had some high points. Just not my thing. Previously I had never given a great deal of thought to South America. To me, it’s primary purpose was to fill up that portion of the globe necessary to keep the Earth on its axis. Was I ever wrong. After much consideration I have come to the conclusion that the other trips were for the most part centered around Man’s creations. This trip was more about God’s creations. The towering trees, the Falls, the sheer mountain cliffs, the rock formations, the wildlife, the flowers, the crystal clear blue oceans, the penguins, those flightless penguin-looking birds, the bright blue skies with an occasional puffy white cloud, the sunsets, the sunrises, the unspoiled white sandy beaches, and so much more were indeed awesome! Such wonders God has given us.

Yes, my friends, even though it was abreviated, this was indeed a trip of a lifetime! I will treasure my memories of it as long as God allows me to remember.

This is Someday! Enjoy it, even in this era of Social Distancing.