RMLincoln

Congratulations Katherine! That’s inspiring! A big relief @smitty34877 m—

Good morning all, we made it back home yesterday from the funeral trip for my cousins DH in NY. It was an intense trip, hectic and emotional. We did get about an hour with granddaughters and their guys (one is married, and it feels like the other will be announcing a wedding soon. ). The traffic was light both ways, and DH was able to do more driving than we had expected. Yay! I’m so glad we could do it! Maryland is so much closer than New Mexico! I’ve missed a lot here but congrats to @bennybear and DH on their milestone anniversary! Sandi @StLouisCruisers wonderful pix of Falmouth! Several years ago on a multi-legged European trip we left a cruise in Venice and flew to London, then we drove to Falmouth and stayed for 10 days visiting my DHs grandfather’s birthplace. Found his great-grandparents graves in the church cemetery in St Mylar across the bay! A church dating back to 411CE when monks came across from Brittany France. We used one of those little foot-ferries as in your photo to go across the bay then walked to the church on a pubic-access trail through a manor estate. It was about 3 miles, not sure I could do it today with my hip issues. And to get on the ferry there were the steep concrete steps your picture shows - IIRC, they have a 9 metre tide shift there! It was an impressive and deeply meaningful trip! I feel our world shrinking but we’ve had a lot of good times and amazing travels, more than I ever could have imagined. While in the area this week we visited a retirement community we are considering as a viable option for our next chapter in life. It’s closer to the granddaughters, and at least one granddaughter seems to be stabilizing in that area. There’s pros and cons to consider but I’m blessed to have options! Today is laundry day and maybe groceries. Tomorrow is symphony, we can enjoy the things we came here to do for a little while yet! We gave away two sets of symphony tickets last month while we had COVID! 🤞we didn’t pick up anything at the family gatherings and can make it tomorrow and Thursday! Blessings to all those in need of healing, comfort or hope! A path forward for @marshhawk, and oxygen for @smitty34877!! Good reports for the medical appointments! Successful surgeries and therapies, amazing what can be done! Cheers 🥂 to all celebrating! Life is good! Bon Voyage to our cruisers! 🙏 for Healthy travels! (For me that’s been a craps-shoot… I do what I can but sometimes we’ve picked up the crud… thankfully we’ve always recovered!) —Maureen

Greetings all. We’re still up north. It’s been a “long month” these last three days! Tuesday drive half day, went to cousin’s wake, then Kate supper with more cousins… fell into bed but couldn’t sleep. Wednesday began with church funeral, then cemetery then family luncheon then across the Hudson to try to herd up with 3 adult grandkids for a lite supper… kids work weird schedules so not all of us ate together. Today relocated to visit a retirement community we are considering…. we were treated to an excellent luncheon so I’ve skipped supper - have eaten too much these few days and experiencing reflux. Home drive tomorrow back to Maryland, hoping for a good space in the traffic! It was a breeze coming north Tuesday but tomorrow is Friday, always dicey. Feeling the sadness lift some after seeing the grandkids. But the reality is that with 23 cousins, siblings(including spouses) with me being the youngest, there will be more losses ahead. The longer we live the more people we lose. @JazzyV Have a fabulous trip! Thanks so much for keeping us on the Care list and rotation… DH’s eyes have been stabilizing enough for him to help with the driving! But still itching like mad at times. We’re managing. @grapau27 Graham, my hip felt better with the aqua exercises in the pool! Orthopedic doc says that’s the best. The strength exercises I did with the bands were pretty tough, and not as beneficial. Not sure what the water resistance does but it helped me. Blessings for improvement! @dfish one step closer! @smitty34877 Of course you’re tired! Hoping this procedure helps! @aliaschief Sorry to hear COVID is spreading. I did everything I could to not catch it on my last cruise but the day after I got off the ship it started. I was so mad! Hang out in that luxurious suite and avoid people “like the plague!” Love the memes you post! Life’s my spirit with a smile. Thank you, I needed that! @jodiesme1 That’s very upsetting about your mom and her DH being landed in Guatemala ill! 🙏for their recovery and return home! @rafinmd Glad you are making progress. Decisions about reality are tough but I’m happy you do have a couple of cruises coming up! Blessings to all in need of healing, comfort or hope! Smooth travels to all away, and a Bon Voyage to all the cruisers! Before I close I will say that I learned a great deal in my 18 years as a volunteer EMT and Firefighter in our rural New Mexico fire department. It was a most rewarding part of my life. Honoring and thanking all volunteers! I’m sure there’s a universal sense of receiving more than was given. Maureen

Not a good night last night, too much going on in my head and heart! Thanks @grapau27for Fr David’s sermons. I wish DH would enjoy falafel but that’s just not happening here. im reposting what I posted Kate last night. Blessings all!I appreciate all your support. m— ——— It’s been a day of running around, making phone calls, getting haircuts, replenishing eye drops from pharmacy, and trying to get a plan together for our quick trip for family funeral. Not all the phone calls were successful so I haven’t got hotel reservations yet, but I read enough reviews to get cross-eyed! I will have to drive, DHs glasses are not matched yet to his new cataract lens, not till next month. But I’m so grateful he’ll be with me to help me along the way navigating and passing me snacks!! 🍪 Heartfelt thanks to ALL for your condolences. This is my third passing of a cousin in 7 months. Illness can come on quickly. I last saw him at a wake in October! I didn’t make the January cousins party because of COVID concerns, and he didn’t either, just beginning his yet-undiagnosed illness. Not sure yet if we’ll try to see granddaughter who lives near where we’re headed… she and her DH are just a week past COVID. It’s such a disruption. We ourselves are only a month past our 2nd bout of it which came on the heels of our grand family Rotterdam cruise. Ugh. So wonderful to see our Dailyites made it aboard today! Some very creative and savvy travelers! @Sharon in AZ we liked the old ships’ inside cabins where they had a couch! Now on the Pinnacle class nearly all the insides have only the bed or the toilet to sit on! Princess has been stingy with sitting areas but at least a chair each! @bennybear your comment about the little sandwiches hit home! My maiden name was Cichetti. And all my cousins are on the Cichetti side! My Irish mom was adopted, an only child of two only-child parents but she married into a big Italian family. Sadly that family seems to be entering the dwindles. @Quartzsite Cruiser, Lenda, thanks for the great pix of Venice. There wasn’t much not to love about Venice! Too bad the ships can’t dock there anymore. I wonder what Venice will do with the People Mover automatic train that took cruisers from the transportation hub to their ships! Very happy to see many ills improving in our Dailyites. May we all stay well and safe, especially @kazu Welcome @Denise T Glad you’ve stopped in for a visit here! This is a very caring assemblage. Blessings all for a good rest tonight. Tomorrow I’ll be acting on the several lists I made today! 🙄And laundry, pack Monday including the car. And tomorrow I’ll make Panettone bread to bring to the family! Maureen

It’s been a day of running around, making phone calls, getting haircuts, replenishing eye drops from pharmacy, and trying to get a plan together for our quick trip for family funeral. Not all the phone calls were successful so I haven’t got hotel reservations yet, but I read enough reviews to get cross-eyed! I will have to drive, DHs glasses are not matched yet to his new cataract lens, not till next month. But I’m so grateful he’ll be with me to help me along the way navigating and passing me snacks!! 🍪 Heartfelt thanks to ALL for your condolences. This is my third passing of a cousin in 7 months. Illness can come on quickly. I last saw him at a wake in October! I didn’t make the January cousins party because of COVID concerns, and he didn’t either, just beginning his yet-undiagnosed illness. Not sure yet if we’ll try to see granddaughter who lives near where we’re headed… she and her DH are just a week past COVID. It’s such a disruption. We ourselves are only a month past our 2nd bout of it which came on the heels of our grand family Rotterdam cruise. Ugh. So wonderful to see our Dailyites made it aboard today! Some very creative and savvy travelers! @Sharon in AZ we liked the old ships’ inside cabins where they had a couch! Now on the Pinnacle class nearly all the insides have only the bed or the toilet to sit on! Princess has been stingy with sitting areas but at least a chair each! @bennybear your comment about the little sandwiches hit home! My maiden name was Cichetti. And all my cousins are on the Cichetti side! My Irish mom was adopted, an only child of two only-child parents but she married into a big Italian family. Sadly that family seems to be entering the dwindles. @Quartzsite Cruiser, Lenda, thanks for the great pix of Venice. There wasn’t much not to love about Venice! Too bad the ships can’t dock there anymore. I wonder what Venice will do with the People Mover automatic train that took cruisers from the transportation hub to their ships! Very happy to see many ills improving in our Dailyites. May we all stay well and safe, especially @kazu Welcome @Denise T Glad you’ve stopped in for a visit here! This is a very caring assemblage. Blessings all for a good rest tonight. Tomorrow I’ll be acting on the several lists I made today! 🙄 And laundry, pack Monday including the car. And tomorrow I’ll make Panettone bread to bring to the family! Maureen

@TiogaCruiser thanks for posting! So glad you both and Rover1 are on your way to the port. 🤞 everyone gets there in plenty of time. @rafinmd thanks for shouts Volendam arriving too. I hope all the trucks can resupply her. Been wondering if the Park n Go lot where we’ve parked our car next to the port had flooded cars! How sad that would be for those disembarking today. DH is my greatest blessing! Got word yesterday that a cousin’s DH died. Made calls to my siblings last night and now making arrangements to go to NY next week for wake and funeral. Lots to do. I am the youngest of all my cousins. Combined with spouses we are now 23 still living. Have lost 3 in last 7 months. I expect we’ll be losing in the not too distant future. Blessings to all in need. Cheers to all celebrating. Bon Voyage to the cruisers! Will probably miss SailAway. Will check tonight for pix! love Venice! We’ve always done music there- Vivaldi and organ concerts. Murano glass museum. And just the beauty from the vaporettos. Could spend a week in the Doges Palace. And the best gelato ever!

Yay! Another step forward! 🍀🙏

Roy and Lenda, thanks for the photos of Prince Rupert and the ferry. I had a friend who bicycled to Prince Rupert from Colorado, in 1980, then he ferried to AK, touted AK and ferried and biked back! I always wanted to take the ferry but I’m glad I got to drive to AK in 1984, a couple of lifetimes ago! @luvteaching thanks for the update, encouraging! Safe drives for you, and hoping it won’t be for long. 🤞 @JazzyV, hoping for good healing for your knee. Then happy travels. Thanks for keeping track of all of us, we can be a pretty unwieldy herd! Blessings to all in need! 🙏 Cheers to all celebrating 🥂 🍀🍀🍀 much good luck to those making their way to FLL and Port Everglades… and your luggage 🫣 @ger_77 Gerry, please extend our warm regards to your Ukrainian family tomorrow! And I hope you are doing better and better! I’m off to pick up friend for pool exercises. Her car was rear-ended… what a nuisance! But she’s ok and will figure it out. Maureen

Another unseasonably hot day in Maryland. The blooming trees and flowers are happy. @cruising sister So sorry about this sad loss. Blessings to you and your friend. It’s always harder when we lose those younger than us but but not everybody who dues is old. We grieve for losing them and what we feel should have been. 💔

The Uber or Lyft option from Ft Meyers might be cheaper than the rental car/drop charge/transponder, plus Uber from car rental drop to port. Wishing you all the best. m—

@TiogaCruiser Not an expert but I hear your plea! try a map for a rental car company, maybe Enterprise and look for neighborhood locations. South of FLL might be less flooded. They are getting a lot more rain right now! Costco travel has one way rental car prices. If you are a member. Or try Enterprise website. Routing will be I-75 to I-95 or US1. Check FL state road conditions to see what’s closed. Google Mapping navigation is your friend.

Thanks for the Fleet Report and Cares List updates. 🙏 for the travelers heading to FLL and Port Everglades. Keep us posted, we’re following with you! It’s summertime hot in MD, supposed to be pushing 90 today, but too gusty to try kayaking, especially the first time out for the season. AC is on here! We’re working on the weekly new schedules for eye drops for the eye that had surgery. Other eye is the old schedule. The itchiness continues but has been tolerable, trying to reduce the Benadryl too but that’s not too easy. One day at a time is everything. I was eyeing a cruise leaving out of NY late next month, sounded amazing. Queen Mary to Norway, England, Europe and back. It feels good to dream again, but we’re not ready for planning. Not yet. I’m waiting to hear dates for a celebration of life gathering in NM for our fire department friend who died recently; maybe I can get away to that for a very quick trip if DH’s eye situation is stable and he can drive. Blessings to all in need of healing, comfort or hope. Cheers to all celebrating life! You remind us that Life is Good! Smooth travels to all away, and especially the cruisers! Glad to hear @ger_77 is back safely but strep can be miserable. Take it slowly Gerry as you recover at home. 🙏 Thanks to all the gardeners who brighten our world! 🌻. Maureen

We were in 5032 on Rotterdam. It’s forward. The balcony was smallish. Had balconies below us, not lifeboats.

Too windy today to kayak but mid 80s! We left our NM home and life 2 years ago today. Maryland is very good but still feels a bit strange… like 80s in April? But it’s all good! Didn’t get to do an Amazon cruise, and not likely to choose to go back to Brazil again. Lawyers are important helpers and it’s time to call ours again soon now that taxes are done and eye surgery in is recovery mode! She’s been working on our trust, updating it for Maryland. She’s been so helpful, did a great job with our Power of Attorney and Advanced Health Care Directives. So glad she’s on our side! Blessings to all in need of healing, comfort or hope. Cheers to those celebrating. Smooth travels to those away, and to the cruisers, Enjoy it all! @luvteaching how are you faring? And DH? Sending some extra luv😉. Time to help with eye drops… m—

Getting warm here in Maryland, 70s today, on the way to hotter later this week 80s. They’re calling it June weather. But too windy to kayak. Maybe next week. Our Tales of the South Pacific cruise stopped in Savusavu. A tender port. The dock was a former copra shipping port, all quite small and now mostly a bar but with lots of music. There was a market, all outside just to one side. And across the one narrow street there were tourist helpers set up. We hired a taxi to take us down the shore a few miles to a “resort” more like a motel, where they had kayaks. The road along the shore was very narrow and damaged with some of the pavement broken and sagging into the sea where it had been undercut. Some places there was no sand or beach at all between the road and the water. Heavy forests on the other side of the road with a few houses carved out of the dense trees. And of course it was quite hot! A young man at the resort carried the kayaks from the front lawn of the little motel style building across the narrow road to the very narrow beach for us to put-in. We kayaked a couple of hours along the shore and returned, although it was more pleasant on the water than on the road and market area it but still hot. Those selling ice cream and frozen drinks did well! I doubt I have access to any of our pictures to get them here but I do have good memories of this “off the beaten path” port. 🙏Blessings to all in need of healing, comfort or hope. 🥂Cheers to all celebrating! ✈️🚗🚆🛳️ Smooth travels to all away and all the cruisers! Enjoy it all! Maureen

Thank you all for the uplifting start to the day and week. Haven’t been to Marseille, looks lovely. Love the quote. Haven’t played gold in 40+years since I was in the company ladies gold league. We live in a condo overlooking the golf course, we enjoy the views but I’m not interested in playing ever again. Watching the Masters was fun though! I have 3 siblings , we have not been all together since 1978. I keep in touch with them, see 2 when it’s possible but the other brother is reclusive, haven’t seen him in 21 years. Probably won’t again. Ive come to accept it, we talk a few time a year. Families are messy. I would enjoy the meal, not the wine- allergic to reds and getting more allergic to some whites. Still can enjoy the Moscato on the Cellar #1 list, by Ruffino. Our local county controlled liquor store used to carry it, hoping I can find it there again soon or maybe a different county store. Not too big of a deal, we don’t drink wine very often, unless we’re on a ship! Then I enjoy a half-pour almost nightly. We’re supposed to be getting a bit warmer after a chilly morning with freeze warnings. Maybe we’ll get out for something fun this week. Taxes are done!!! Gusty winds will keep us from kayaking but maybe we can get to a museum for an outing. Seems we’ve been in a holding/recovery pattern too long. Glad to be looking ahead but happy for today! @luvteaching So glad you got to spend the day with your husband, and I hope you got your special sandwich! One day at a time is everything! Blessings to all the Dailyites! And all the Care List, thank you Vanessa. And wherever there’s a need for healing, comfort or hope. Cheers to all celebrating 🥂 Safe travels to all away. And smooth seas with lots of fun times to all the cruisers! Thanks for sharing with us! Today is a good day to be happy! Maureen

Happy Easter Graham and Fr David. Many thanks for sharing the messages! Happy celebrating to all: Sacred days, life’s milestones, SailAways, cruising, traveling, visiting, and recovering! Blessings to all in need of healing, comfort or hope. Thank you Paul for sharing your interesting and informative explanations. Traditional and modernized! My mother used to go with ladies from church to walk in the 5th Ave Easter Parade. They made their elaborate hats! I’m glad she had those fun days long ago. Churchill is a person to study again and again. A flawed character who brought profound courage, wisdom and strength. I love grilled shrimp on any menu. No grill here in the condo! Off to get ready for church. I hope everyone can feel a little new hope in the day, no matter what their situation is. m—

@erewhon Happy Anniversary to you both! 🎉🥂. So nice that you got out to a special restaurant. @aliaschief glad you made it “back to Florida” ok via Atlanta 🤔. Bon Voyage! 🎉. Hoping you can check in with some of your humor, our best medicine! Thanks always! @tupper10 Sounds difficult now but hoping for steady improvement. @JazzyV Ouch. Hope you find something that helps… ice packs maybe? Better days ahead! The spiral ham in the crock pot was good. It cooked faster than expected. Will be good tomorrow too! 😉 Roy @rafinmd your alternative menus remind me how much I enjoyed so many of the old selections! Especially the chilled soups and the dessert crisps. Nice to be reminded! Thanks! Maureen

40 to mid 50s, howling winds today but some sun and no rain. Not a lot different for tomorrow here in Maryland just north of Washington. I’ll make a spiral cut ham in the crock pot today, inspired by Debbie from last week’s recipes. I’ll be the meal tonight and tomorrow. Tonight we’ll have a single girlfriend join us, a good friend of 40 years from NM but lives here too now! Lincoln’s wisdom is timeless and inspiring. We may have some connection to the great man, a great- great- great- uncle maybe but hard to prove yet. Needs better research! We did our first ZipLine in Amber Cove. Very pretty spot, relaxing, fun and safe. Happy Birthday Sandi! 🎂 Thank you for all you do for us. I’m so impressed with the beautiful celebration attachments that clever people can add! Happy Anniversary Fred and Mitzi! Anniversaries are such an accomplishment! Prayers for all the needs shared here, and all those in need of healing, comfort or hope. Safe travels to all away from home. And smooth flights @aliaschief. Good visits to Gerry @ger_77 and family. I’d love to try those grandma cookies! Congrats to all those celebrating 🎉. Life is Good! Cheers to Ren and his teammates for their excellent run in the Dallas ⚽️ tournament. Glad to hear a new aide has come to help @smitty34877 . Blessings of Peace and Hope to all those celebrating sacred days. Thanks Roy @rafinmd for capturing the cruise port cam shots to share. I’ll look forward to checking back later after I get some cooking organized. Maureen

Perfect. Thank you so much. I shared it with an artist friend! m—

Good morning all! Couldn’t see the moonrise here last night, clouds and rain, so thanks for the moonrise pics! Grew up on Manhattans! It’ll be salmon or crabcakes tonight not swordfish but they look great Debbie! Have only driven through St John NB. I remember being very relieved that the toll taker accepted my US dollar at the bridge because we hadn’t stopped since crossing the border. Canadians are so nice! Oh 🇨🇦 I often wish I were born there! @RedneckBob great to see your imagination gracing us today. Wishing you a better day today. Our NM mountain home was on Beaver Trail. DH saw a beaver up there once, I never did, maybe it was lost, too far from the creek. But there were beaver ponds below us (like 4 miles and 800 feet below us) all along the creek. They made dams to deepen the ponds to store their wood for winter food (Aspen logs) and build their lodges for protection. Their ponds were excellent for trout fishing. Graham @grapau27 beautiful “painting” e-card. Thanks for bring it to us. Wish I could share it but it doesn’t seem to copy. But I have shared the Beer Day explanation 🍺 with friends who’ll appreciate it. @kochleffel Thanks for sharing your unusual Seder experience. Nice you could bring your own wine to take the edge off some of the rest of it. A church in my deeper history back when I lived in Albuquerque always had a Seder on Tuesday of Holy Week. It was a great event that I have missed having in my life the last few decades. My journey goes on in new paths. Blessings to all in need of healing, comfort or hope. Happy celebrations to all those amidst sacred days. Cheers to all celebrating life’s milestones 🍾 Life is Good! You remind us of this on our tougher days! Smooth travels to those away from home, and smooth seas to all the cruisers. Enjoy it all. Hoping we hear @cruisin sister made it home, or will soon 🙏 GO REN ⚽️🥅! Maureen

Annie, @marshhawk so glad you made it through the scan and sorry it was difficult. Hope tomorrow is easier. Still praying for Amazing! @Cruising-along Rest, rest, more rest. Thankfully now COVID is mild for most people. But clinically mild can still be miserable. Because you said you didn’t know what a serious case might be: high fever (102.5+) that won’t come down with analgesics; difficulty catching your breath; pain with breathing either in or out, coughing so much you can’t breathe in between coughs, mental confusion; chest/heart pain… call for an ambulance to the hospital. Otherwise, liquids, cold meds and remedies (I used a vaporizer), eat light and rest. Prayers for a speedy recovery for you both, but also realize the fatigue may go on well after the cold symptoms, give it time! @cruising sister good attitude during a crappy travel event! Hope you can either get home tonight or can have a comfortable place to rest for more travel tomorrow. Stay safe and well! m—

@RedneckBob @kazu We are thinking of you, sending out the love. You are each a gift to us with your caring, your humor and deep knowledge. We will look forward to your being with us when the timing is right for you! @StLouisCruisers Sandi I’m sorry to hear you have a relative on a difficult path. I’m sure you will do whatever you can to ease that path and you will be a blessing to them as you are to us! Just got a call from DH’s oncologist. He’s happy with the 6-month bloodwork! Keep living life! Life changes, we’ve changed, our reach into the far corners of the world is not as deep or carefree as it once was, but Life is Good! Have a great day everyone, and happy preparations for celebrations or travels. m—

Thanks for the Daily! I slept well last night! Wonderful what a good doctor report can do! Thanks to all for the lift with your caring thoughts and prayers! And for your loving condolences on the passing of my friend and colleague’s husband. He was a firefighter in our NM rural valley for over 30 years, maybe 40? But he and I only worked a few times together, mostly my early years in the department. The county Fire Chief asked our local department chief for a write-up for an announcement yesterday. Chief asked me if I would do it! I was so grateful to be remembered and asked to do that! (… having left NM 2 years ago to move to Maryland for health and aging-related issues). And I think I did a pretty good job if it! A small thing to still help out but very meaningful. I’m hoping our situation at home stabilized well enough so that I’ll be able to get back to NM for a celebration of life gathering. Lotta IFs. Blessings to Annie @marshhawk doing her scan today. And all those observing sacred days now, a large fraction of the world, we’re all connected! So many are in need of healing, comfort or hope, sending out the love. Especially thinking of @kazu and @Scrapnana And all struggling through natural and manmade disasters. 🙏 Safe travels to @ger_77 Gerry and family. May their new friends from Ukraine 🇺🇦 have a blast with their windfall of gifts! There are so many good people everywhere! Love seeing @Vict0riann Ann’s thread of the Rotterdam 150th Anniversary cruise. I grew up in NY and although I don’t really miss living there, it’s nostalgic to see her sail-in and port day pics there. For a few years I used the Staten Island ferry to get to Manhattan, passing the Statue of Liberty twice a day, never took a picture of it! We sailed in there in February 2013 on our return from our ‘Round the Horn adventure on Carnival Splendor repositioning from CA to NY (too big fir Panama Canal then) and nearly froze at 5am on the front deck taking pictures! Cheers to all celebrating milestones - Life is Good! 🎉 Congrats to Sandi’s DGS Ren on his 4-goal game! He’ll remember that his whole life! ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️🥅 Smooth travels for all the cruisers! Maureen

Thank you Sandi and Annie. This eye check up certainly felt better than the first one. But there’s a long way to go to see if he can maintain without the meds he’s become allergic to. Probably will keep learning, but I think I’ll sleep better tonight. Annie, hoping your PET scan is a breeze compared to an MRI! Take good pictures! Don’t want any recalls for do-overs. Praying for Amazing! And congratulations on your sales! 🎉