Thank you, Administrators and Hosts

[HeatherInFlorida]

I want to thank our Administrators and Hosts for your leniency with regard to some of the topics during this painful and difficult hurricane season. I know that many of these threads have had nothing to do with cruising, yet you have allowed us to vent, to talk, to express all our emotions as hurricanes have come toward us, enveloped us and then thankfully left us.

 

The comraderie of my friends here on the CC Boards has meant the world to me at a time when stress has pushed me almost to the edge. I have admired the strength of so many who have suffered more than I and I have marvelled at the goodness and warm hearts of people all over the U.S., Canada and elsewhere as they have lent support to those of us going through it.

 

And in the end it is about cruising in a way. Because we all came together here out of a love for being on the sea on a ship. To me these Boards are about community. I would hope to be on a ship on a calm sea someday with everyone on these Boards. I can think of no better companionship than to share our love of cruising and be able to look back and laugh at the humorous parts of this difficult summer.

 

So thank you again for understanding our need to share what we've been going through. And thank you everyone else for being there for those of us who are feeling just a bit battered right now.

[Roboat]

Amen, Heather. Very well put.

 

I thought of you and Lois when I read an "Open Letter to Ivan" that one of my buddies just posted on the Florida Fishing forum.

 

If you are in the mood for a little hurricane humor with a Florida twang....read on.

================

Dear Ivan:

Hey, how's it going out there near Barbados?

 

 

Listen, lots of us here in Southwest Florida have been talking about your scheduled visit.

 

Now, please don't take this the wrong way. We like spectacular forces of nature as well as the next guy. We realize that Florida and hurricanes go together like country music and drunken driving. We don't want to mess with tradition.

 

And we know you hurricanes recharge the aquifers, provide an exhilarating break in the stifling heat of late summer, and give neighbors a chance to bond. The economic boost you give to Home Depot alone is enough to make up for whatever inconvenience is to be expected.

 

So normally you would be as welcome as a gang of Harley riders during Bike Week.

 

But may I say that this year the timing of your tentatively scheduled arrival seems less than ideal.

 

You know that visitors start to wear out their welcome after a few days. And too many visitors in a row can also wear down a host and hostess. That, I'm sorry to say, is pretty much the position we Floridians find ourselves in just now.

 

Your cousin Charley blew through a few weeks ago and, to be blunt, he was less than mannerly. He zoomed in like a hyperactive toddler, leaving the proverbial path of destruction, except that it was no proverb. And then he was gone without so much as a see-ya-later.

 

Charley was a leave-wet-towels-on-the-floor, never-pick-up-a-tab kind of guest. He inspired some grumbling, and picking up after him has been a real chore. You should have seen Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Arcadia and Wauchula.

 

At least Charley didn't stay long. But just when we were starting to get things almost back to normal, Frances sauntered in.

 

I don't mean to be crass, but she was HUGE. When she hung around the state, she hung around the state, you know what I mean?

 

And you know how some guests just don't leave? That's Frances. Even when we were looking at our watches and yawning and singing "The Party's Over" she just stayed and stayed.

 

Some of us who hadn't really rolled out the red carpet for Charley decided to prepare a lot more for Frances, and maybe we just tired ourselves out. And then she stalled and arrived late, which is always irritating.

 

She wasn't as wild as Charley, I'll admit. Those rumors about Frances possibly becoming a Category 5 turned out to be overblown hype. But she just sort of oozed through. I went to bed Sunday night and woke up thinking she'd be long gone at last, but she was still here Monday morning!

 

So a lot of us here are thinking that enough is enough for one year. Actually, the experience of almost back-to-back hurricanes has some people talking about canceling hurricane season entirely.

 

Don't worry. Floridians won't go that far. But we may consider moving hurricane season to a nicer time of year. I know hurricanes like it hot, but doing without air conditioning would be a lot nicer in November, or maybe March, so as not to interfere with football season.

 

I mean, did you see where Frances actually caused the postponement of a Gator football game? People will put up with a lot, but let's be reasonable here.

 

Some are saying we should limit the number of hurricanes allowed into Florida in one year. There might be some debate about whether the limit should be one or two, but there is wide agreement that three is too many.

 

So, Ivan, here's the point: Florida's famous hospitality is pretty much tapped out just now. Our enthusiasm for big winds and rains, and for TV reporters gushing forth with excited descriptions of it all, has bogged down like a riding lawnmower in the swamp that used to be my back yard.

 

As I said, it is nothing personal, Ivan, but what would you say to making alternate travel plans? I understand that Bermuda is lovely this time of year.

==========

 

:D

[HeatherInFlorida]

:D ... loved it, Roboat, thanks. Any giggle is welcome! They forgot about little Dora. While she may have been a whisper, still she came and who asked her?;)

[jhannah]

Excellent! Thanks for the post. Let's just hope Ivan takes it to heart.

[dakrewser]

Hi-larious, Roboat - thanks for sharing!

 

 

-dave

[Krazy Kruizers]

Our Hosts and Administrators know what a lot of you have gone through the past number of days.

It's nice to know that they do care what is happening to their "cruisers".

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Roboat, that was really good and well written. I had to pass that on to a good friend who's brother lives in Orlando. Thanks for sharing.

[sail7seas]

Thanks for your post, Lois. I agree that the Hosts did cut us a little slack. We know they too wished all CC'ers the best and understood there are times when a slight variation from rules will not usually do any harm. This seems an appropriate time for it.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Thanks for your post, Lois. I agree that the Hosts did cut us a little slack. We know they too wished all CC'ers the best and understood there are times when a slight variation from rules will not usually do any harm. This seems an appropriate time for it.

Sail, actually I started this thread, not Lois. I just want to be sure they know that I'm grateful. Roboat veered off my path of gratitude with his very funny post (which I loved, Roboat:D ), but I'm hoping the hosts get the feeling behind my original message. I felt that I, more than anyone, took advantage of the Boards and wanted to let everyone know how much I appreciated it.

[Lois R]

Hi Heather..thank you for the post:) and Roboat..thank you for that letter:)

 

Made me SMILE BIG:D

[sail7seas]

Sorry, Heather. I am happy you started this thread and I understand the message you wish to convey. :)

[Roboat]

Heather, I'm glad you enjoyed that letter to Ivan. In hindsight, I do wish I had posted it it in a separate thread, because your thread is important and so valid, and I didn't mean to derail it.

 

I add my thanks to the admins for letting us rant, vent, and dry out a little between rounds.

 

Hang in there. :)