JulesBee Posted May 16, 2012 #1 Share Posted May 16, 2012 This might be too personal a post, especially from a newbie, but it's been on my mind. I'm mostly posting it to get it out of my head, so bear with me because it's extremely cheesy/sappy. Then and Now. Then - Christmas 1993 Now - June 10, 2012 Then - I was barely 17 and someone else's 'kid' Now - I'm in my 30s and am taking my own kid Then - Sailed on the Westerdam to the Caribbean Now - Sailing on the Oosterdam to Alaska Then - This was a cruise to help us forget Christmas. My big sister died earlier that year and we couldn't stand the thought of celebrating at home without her. Too many traditions that couldn't be fathomed without her. Now - Fulfilling my dream to see Alaska and sharing it with my daughter, who is named after my sis. Then - Met new people; had great experiences Now - Already met new people on CC and have already had great experiences. Then - My dad took care of all the details. I was just along for the ride Now - It's all up to me. A little intimidating...but enormously satisfying Then - Disembarked with a new love of the ocean and with fresh hope. Now - Can't wait to continue that love affair of the open sea on a HAL ship, and share it with my daughter. Then - That cruise in 1993 was my only one, but because of the events of that previous year it became something to me that was desperately needed. I loved it and have been trying to get back on a ship ever since. Now - We leave to drive to Seattle in 23 days and I plan on savoring every second of this anticipation. So with all the concern with what to wear and how to act, working toilets and A/C issues...I'm just so thankful that I'm able to experience a little bit of life on the water again, and to feed that flame that started back in 1993. It's been a long road, but I'm almost back! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty KK Posted May 16, 2012 #2 Share Posted May 16, 2012 :o For putting things in what I consider proper perspective. How easy it is to forget in all the daily chaos what is truly important. Please enjoy your time with your family and Alaska. And thanks for the reminder...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie1213 Posted May 16, 2012 #3 Share Posted May 16, 2012 What a lovely post. I hope you and your daughter enjoy your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted May 16, 2012 #4 Share Posted May 16, 2012 So with all the concern with what to wear and how to act, working toilets and A/C issues...I'm just so thankful that I'm able to experience a little bit of life on the water again, and to feed that flame that started back in 1993. It's been a long road, but I'm almost back! :D Very nicely said :):) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted May 16, 2012 #5 Share Posted May 16, 2012 How fortunate your daughter is to have a parent setting that kind of an example of the attitude to view life. Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ariawoman Posted May 16, 2012 #6 Share Posted May 16, 2012 AWESOME post. Amazing. More people should post things like this instead of constantly focusing on the negative. Kudos to you, and may you guys have an awesome time! Sounds like whatever happens, you'll take it in stride, good or bad! That's definitely the best attitude to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawyerrose Posted May 16, 2012 #7 Share Posted May 16, 2012 What a wonderful post!! May you have the best cruise ever, you and your daughter. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwest 852 Posted May 16, 2012 #8 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted May 16, 2012 #9 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Love your thread. Have a great cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted May 16, 2012 #10 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Thank you for sharing this with us. I hope you make some fabulous memories with your daughter. Travel safely and have a wonderful time. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilliesMom Posted May 16, 2012 #11 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Jules ... great post. Know you will be creating amazing memories with your daughter. We have been on 10 cruises. The one of our most memorable was with my sister, her husband, and 3 year old son. It was their 25th wedding anniversary and our 19th the week of the cruise. We had such a wonderful time, took so many photos. My sister passed away 3 years later. We still talk about our wonderful vacation and family time together. So glad we got to spend the time with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tricia724 Posted May 16, 2012 #12 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I had a half dozen cruises under my belt, then life happened, and I didn't get back on a ship for 17 years, but you know what? It was everything I remembered and hoped it would be and then some. My circumstances were different from yours, but I was also doing a special cruise with a special person who had never cruised before on a brand new ship (Amsterdam), and to this day, it remains one of my favorite cruising memories. I wish you and your daughter a wonderful trip to Alaska. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tranquilize Posted May 16, 2012 #13 Share Posted May 16, 2012 What a wonderful post, I really enjoyed reading it, thank you for taking the time to share it with us. I hope that you and your daughter have a fantastic time!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kakalina Posted May 16, 2012 #14 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Well said. Have a fantastic cruise. I hope you get some great Mom/Daughter time in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANSalberg Posted May 17, 2012 #15 Share Posted May 17, 2012 JulesBee- You've had a LOT to come to terms with over the last 20 years, I can HOPE that your NEW cruise will live up to your expectations but also that you will Dream YOUR very own DREAM! Have a WONDERFUL cruise. And help your daughter to begin HER "Memory Book"......Good luck!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpf Posted May 17, 2012 #16 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Best wishes for your cruise with your daughter. I have taken my DD on 3 cruises with me and once we even had her 26 year old daughter and we all had a great time. So enjoy and keep these memories. Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coolcruise02 Posted May 17, 2012 #17 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Love it! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jean95404 Posted May 17, 2012 #18 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Then and Now: My first cruise was somewhat under duress. My mother wanted to go, to be with her nieces and nephews, kind of a family reunion cruise. I wasn't interested in cruising AT ALL. My husband less so. (He a former Navy Corpsman). Then my Mom broke her hip and was not confident to be travelling somewhat alone. She so seldom asked for anything that I felt, "why not?" So we (husband and I) agreed to go along. BEST TRIP EVER!!!!! So much so that my husband was ready to get a next trip booking. Even with my Mom having a serious accident in Puerto Vallarta, we were blown away with how Princess helped us, how they supported my Mom and cared for her. The next year we took our family on a vacation (sons, daughters-in-law, granddaughter and Mom) to celebrate our 25th anniversary. Mom loved it! All of us loved it. The next year my Mom was no longer alive. My husband and I took a trip to the Eastern Caribbean and I had several little 1"x1" photos of her that I placed at various places we went. Tucked inside crevices of buildings, along sides of rocks at beaches, etc. Now, I realize that many of you will see this as littering, and maybe it was. But it was a way of remembering Mom and thanking her for getting us into cruising. She would so much have loved being on that cruise. I felt her presence everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipity1499 Posted May 17, 2012 #19 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Dear Jules..what beautiful post! Thanks for sharing your memory with us..We hope you & your daughter have a wonderful cruise.. You will love Alaska.. Cheers...Betty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare erewhon Posted May 17, 2012 #20 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Thank you for your Then and Now post. Wishing you and your daughter a fabulous Alaskan cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeedee2 Posted May 17, 2012 #21 Share Posted May 17, 2012 what a wonderful post. It is so nice to read something real and heartfelt. I know you are on our cruise and hope to meet you there...its coming up soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesBee Posted May 17, 2012 Author #22 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Thanks all for your kind words! It was so great to see some of your stories and I really appreciate the encouraging messages! We will definitely enjoy this cruise! I can't wait to see my dd's face when she experiences that beautiful ship for the first time. We know it won't be perfect, but whatever it is...it is. We are just SO excited! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesBee Posted May 17, 2012 Author #23 Share Posted May 17, 2012 what a wonderful post. It is so nice to read something real and heartfelt. I know you are on our cruise and hope to meet you there...its coming up soon! Thanks monkeedee! It really is coming up soon! So excited! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesBee Posted May 17, 2012 Author #24 Share Posted May 17, 2012 How fortunate your daughter is to have a parent setting that kind of an example of the attitude to view life. Roy Thanks Roy! I make LOTS of mistakes, and too bad for my daughter that she's an only child. I was the 3rd child so by the time I came around my parents had already experimented with my siblings. :D We both learn together though. It's just so important to me that she learn to take joy out of life. I am very anxious to see what she thinks of everything! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCalicoCat Posted May 17, 2012 #25 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Our AK cruise will be my 3 year olds 3rd cruise - I hope your daughter loves cruising as much as my son! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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