cccole Posted January 6, 2014 #51 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I am so sorry for the death of your father. He sounds like a fabulous dad and person. Even when a death is expected it does not make the passing any easier. I'm sure when you look up in the night sky you will see a bright new star. I look forward to your reports on your world cruise and hope that you find some comfort in him wanting you to make the voyage. Cherie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mar56 Posted January 6, 2014 #52 Share Posted January 6, 2014 So very sorry to read about the death of your father. How heartbreaking for you. I still miss mine so much after 5 years. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love the beach Posted January 6, 2014 #53 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Deepest condolences...I know you will miss him. Marge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinner2 Posted January 6, 2014 #54 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Thank you for helping us to know your father through your wonderful stories. We'll grieve with you and hope that the cruise will provide the solace you need. Somehow, I think it will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted January 6, 2014 #55 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I am so sorry for your loss. I can hear the joy you shared with your Dad in your post. Those memories will be a comfort always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swin26 Posted January 6, 2014 #56 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I am so sorry for your loss. I had to wipe away my tears after reading your beautiful post about your dad. I lost my dad over 21 years ago and still miss him very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowsby Posted January 6, 2014 #57 Share Posted January 6, 2014 So sorry....that was a beautiful tribute for your Dad.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsas Posted January 6, 2014 #58 Share Posted January 6, 2014 So sorry for your loss, a beautiful memorial of your dad's life you shared with us all. Have a safe wonderful world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvcruisn' Posted January 6, 2014 #59 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I'm sorry to hear of your father's passing. It sounds like you had a wonderful relationship with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlohaPride Posted January 6, 2014 #60 Share Posted January 6, 2014 My deepest condolences. You are so blessed to have had such an amazing father. Thank you for sharing your memories with us. My prayers are with you and your family. I hope you can find peace on your voyage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KNOT2L82SAIL Posted January 7, 2014 #61 Share Posted January 7, 2014 You wrote such a beautiful tribute to your dad. I am sure he is reading and smiling... and wishing you a wonderful cruise. He sounded like he was a wonderful man. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
startwin Posted January 7, 2014 #62 Share Posted January 7, 2014 (edited) Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful memories of an amazing father with us. As someone who spends many hours weekly in a hospice, I feel sure he picked his time and waited until you were on your way. My deepest condolences to you and your family. Edited January 7, 2014 by startwin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotzej Posted January 7, 2014 #63 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Very sorry to hear about your Dad...I am sure he would want you to continue but it must be hard. Wishing you a wonderful cruise from here on out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare rafinmd Posted January 7, 2014 #64 Share Posted January 7, 2014 So sorry to hear about your father. Thank you for sharing the story. See you in April. (no cabin yet) Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauranne Posted January 7, 2014 #65 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Thank you for telling us your father's story. I am so sorry for your loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkNC Posted January 7, 2014 #66 Share Posted January 7, 2014 I am so sorry to hear about your father. I can tell from your write up how close you were and what a strong influence he was on your life. Hopefully you can find joy on the world cruise and remember all the wonderful times you had with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TiogaCruiser Posted January 7, 2014 #67 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Sending my condolences. Thank you for sharing, and such a beautiful piece and tribute to him. Just finished reading it- couldn't keep reading it while on my break at work and return to my post looking "professional." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvteaching Posted January 7, 2014 #68 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Your tribute to your dad was wonderful and I feel like I knew him in some small way. We are always "Daddy's girl" aren't we? I'm following you on your new adventure and he will be with you every step of the way. Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alibabacruisers Posted January 7, 2014 #69 Share Posted January 7, 2014 I am so sorry to hear about your father. You wrote such a moving and loving tribute to your father and I can feel your love for him through your writing. Thank you for sharing about both you and your father. I hope you have a nice cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CI66774 Posted January 7, 2014 #70 Share Posted January 7, 2014 What a moving tribute to your father! Brought tears to my eyes as I thought of my own Dad and the wonderful times we had together. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monina01 Posted January 7, 2014 #71 Share Posted January 7, 2014 (edited) So sorry to hear about this. Our condolences on your loss. Ina & Arthur Edited January 7, 2014 by monina01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillside Posted January 7, 2014 #72 Share Posted January 7, 2014 So sorry to hear about your loss. The tribute to your Dad was a loving memorial to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esri Posted January 8, 2014 Author #73 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Read it on Go With Me! After I cried myself to sleep on Sunday night, I slept like a baby. I had set my alarm for 8:00 AM, but I woke up at about 7:30. I showered and went to breakfast – orange juice, Denver omelet, and toast. It was very good. I’m picky about eggs – I only like them the way I like them. HAL’s omelet passed the test. Breakfast behind me, I came back to the cabin and worked on my blog post about my Dad for a bit. At 10:00 we had our first Cruise Critic Meet & Greet. I kind of sat in the corner and let folks come to me. Which they did – apparently the photo booklet and initial organization I did for the roll call was a big hit. I was more than happy to let Wowzo/MaryAnn emcee the meeting though. I can do public speaking and teaching, but I prefer not to. MaryAnn did a great job though. The Meet & Greet was well attended and both Henk, the Hotel Manager, and Glenn, the Cruise Director, came and spoke. Waiters were serving champagne and mimosas and there was food, although I didn’t partake in any of the offerings so I’m not sure what kind of food it was. By the way, Diane S. said I should send a shout out to her son, who reads the blog. If she told me his name, I forgot and I apologize, but “Hi, Diane’s son!” I only told two people on the ship today that my Dad had died. I was talking to a woman who is taking a tour I arranged in Lima and she asked me a question about what time we’d meet and I drew a complete blank! I just said “I’m sorry. My father died yesterday and my mind just turned to mush. Could you call me later?” Of course she was most gracious and sympathetic. Then at dinner one of my table companions, Mary, who is on the world cruise with her father, asked me if my father was still living. I said “No” and she asked when he passed. There was nothing for it but to say “Saturday night”. She took my hand and told me how sorry she was and that I could call her anytime I needed to talk. Despite being kind of out of it, I had a pretty good day. Writing the blog post about my Dad was kind of cathartic. It reminded me that I was very lucky to have the parents I had. I still miss my Mom every day after ten years. I miss Paul every day too. That said, I’ve made a life and gone on. I have fun and I laugh just about every day. I’ll continue to do so. Other than the Meet & Greet and working on the post and picture gallery for the blog I read a few chapters of “The Hobbit”. I’m reading it for what is at least the thirtieth time. One of the last things I did before losing free internet access was download it and “The Lord of the Rings” to my Kindle. I love my Kindle – I can carry a whole library in less weight and space than one paperback. I did my reading in the Ocean Bar this afternoon – I’m testing out the most comfortable chairs and environments for reading as I plan to do a lot of it on this cruise. As I was out and about I watched the crew working hard to decorate the ship for our first formal night. I have to say, I was impressed with everything about the evening. I did not attend the Captain’s Champagne Reception, but my dinner companions told me it was exceptional. The same goes for dinner. Every course tonight had so many things I’d like to have eaten! I decided on an antipasto plate for a starter, skipping the escargot (although I like it). The antipasto was delicious – I even ate the romaine garnish! I stuck to my Caesar Salad although I was tempted by the spicy corn chowder – I didn’t want to spill soup on my good clothes. Then I had to choose between three things I dearly love: Filet Mignon & Lobster, Chicken Kiev, and Eggplant Parmesan. I went with the surf & turf and it was excellent. The steak was a perfect medium rare and very tender. The lobster was well-cooked, sweet, and tender. Dessert? Oh, there were only three or four things I’d have gladly eaten. A Dark Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce, a Pear Purse, Cheesecake, Vanilla Napoleon, and Crepes Suzette. I decided on the Napoleon and then Mary went and ordered one of everything so we all ate our own dessert and tasted whatever else appealed to us. I was so full I just had a little piece of the chocolate cake with my Napoleon. I am having just the greatest time every night at dinner. I think we’ve been the last early seating table to clear out every night so far and poor service is not the reason. We just laugh and have fun and time gets away from us. After dinner I came back to my room, absolutely firm in my plan to attend tonight’s show – “Forbidden Broadway” performed by a troupe of off-Broadway performers. As soon as I hit the door I just wanted to put on my sweats and stay in. It was exciting to find my first towel animal and second “pillow gift”. Last night we got a nice Moleskine travel journal and tonight we got a canvas Messenger bag. It isn’t padded, but it’s big enough to hold my laptop or my camera. Very nice. It doesn’t say “Grand World Voyage 2014” or anything at all, but that could be a bonus when out and about in port. There was a small bag of “travel swag” inside that does say “2014 Grand World Voyage”. It had things like hand sanitizer and lip balm in it – nice to have on a shore excursion. Tonight we turn back the clock an hour to Central Time. I’ve ordered room service for breakfast at 9ish: juice, mango slices, and a bagel with cream cheese & lox. I’m hoping to take my camera out and get some pictures around the ship tomorrow so I may be spending part of the afternoon tomorrow working in Lightroom so I can post some when I post this to the blog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
startwin Posted January 8, 2014 #74 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Cyber hug coming your way.:o Thanks for taking us with you, and keeping up the reports in the face of such heartache. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlohaPride Posted January 8, 2014 #75 Share Posted January 8, 2014 ((((Hugs)))) I so admire your strength. The "Pillow Gifts" sound like fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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