Dearest Rachel – It’s considered to be an axiom of travel that, for every time zone that you cross in your journeys, you need a day in which to recover from the change. It doesn’t matter whether you’re ‘springing forward’ or ‘falling back’; any change in time causes a certain amount of disorientation that onlyContinue reading “More Hours in the Day…”
Category Archives: Adrift in the World
Blood Signal
Dearest Rachel – Well, this turned out to be something of a shaggy dog story; one of those things that get started, meanders about a bit, and finally resolves without much actual participation on my part. But it’s something that doesn’t happen every day – even (especially?) on a cruise ship –so I might as wellContinue reading “Blood Signal”
The Holiday and the Holy Day
Dearest Rachel – Let me get the aside out of the way first, as it’s a matter of mild frustration. I recorded a few comments about the confluence of Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, and after shutting off the camera, realized there were so many other things I wanted to say, but couldn’t think ofContinue reading “The Holiday and the Holy Day”
Pulled From My Stateroom
Dearest Rachel – As comfortable as I am in my stateroom – and as much as I know I’m going to be familiar with every inch of this ship soon enough – I have this sense that I can’t simply stay in my room all the time. If nothing else, my attendant, I Komang, isContinue reading “Pulled From My Stateroom”
Settling In; Will I Stay Settled?
Dearest Rachel – Aside for the fact that this “at sea” portion of this leg of the cruise is going to go on for nearly a full week, there’s nothing particularly out of the ordinary about moving into my cabin. You and I cruised together (mostly with family, of course, but occasionally on our own) maybeContinue reading “Settling In; Will I Stay Settled?”
No Ragarts
Dearest Rachel – I’m giving myself just a little more than two hours from check-out at the hotel until my pick up for the cruise port. As I’m scheduled to show up for check-in at two, that gives me 45 minutes to ride those six miles, which may be absurdly too much time to getContinue reading “No Ragarts”
Morning Meanderings and Meals
Dearest Rachel – Morning, and with it, the acknowledgment that this ocean view isn’t all that bad, after all. While you probably already know it from the fact that it’s smokestacks aren’t what you should be looking for, that ship docked across from our hotel is not the one that’s “come in” for me. ThatContinue reading “Morning Meanderings and Meals”
The Pilgrimage
Dearest Rachel – The plane trip was uneventful, which is just the way it’s supposed to be. After touching down at LAX and collecting my bags (they showed up one right after the other, so that was convenient), I concluded that I’d need to summon an Uber to get me to the hotel. It’s a littleContinue reading “The Pilgrimage”
Preparing For Takeoff
Dearest Rachel – It’s not like I haven’t been to an airport – or told you about it – since you had to go. In fact, I’ve done a lot of traveling since your departure, and consequently seen a lot of airports: Denver International, Amsterdam/Schiphol, EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International, Istanbul, Ben Gurion (Tel Aviv),Continue reading “Preparing For Takeoff”
Am I Missing Anything?
Dearest Rachel – I wonder if this trip would have driven you crazy; the answer to the above question is, of course I am. I’ve limited myself to a single suitcase (which itself is limited to fifty pounds) as well as my electronic items in my carry-on backpack (while the suitcase Kerry and the travel agencyContinue reading “Am I Missing Anything?”
Obeying Whose Orders?
Dearest Rachel – In retrospect, it probably wasn’t the best choice for me to be watching while I was waiting for the girls to show up last night. For all intents and purposes, I really should be talking to you mostly about the dinner we had last night; one last get-together before I ship out. AboutContinue reading “Obeying Whose Orders?”
Not So Easily Said
Dearest Rachel – As much as I’m not particularly fond of their attitudes, I have to give the TikTokers their due. Being able to talk straight through everything, without hesitation, without self-consciousness – I’d say it was easier said than done, but the whole point is that it’s not so easily said at all. For me toContinue reading “Not So Easily Said”
Go Pro Envy
Dearest Rachel – So yesterday found me saying one last goodbye to the gang in the booth, as well as the praise team, over the weekend. As I spend more weekends working the booth than not, it’s going to be weird not doing so for at least thirteen straight weekends. While hanging out in the greenContinue reading “Go Pro Envy”
The Odd Preparations
Dearest Rachel – I don’t think I’ve completely shaken off Basel Syndrome (which, upon re-reading that letter to you, I was surprised to discover that I’d defined it as more of an irrational preference for staying in my hotel room/cabin rather than going outside of it; whereas now, I think of it as a fearContinue reading “The Odd Preparations”
Letters to Rachel 