Not Quite as Smooth a Cruise as Last Year!

I'll be trying to make a short, fun, but rather uneventful cruise longer and more exciting! Brave Susan and I drove to Galveston to sail for 5 nights on the Mariner of the Seas again. This is our same cruise as the one last May, but with more mishaps and complications! Right off we were notified that there was a problem with boarding, so we needed to delay our arrival by 2 hours.  Frustrated looks were exchanged between us...we could have slept later. Instead we stopped at Starbucks for a coffee break.

Now one of the mantras I have developed about travel is NOT to report on the problems of the trip first! That would be hard to avoid on this blog, since the first day was kinda nothing but problems. First problem: a wheelchair to get me onto the ship. The fact that this worked flawlessly last year seems to have been a fluke. Two many missteps to relate. It was an extended mess.

Susan parked me while she went to check out our room!

My pina colada matched my outfit!

Our room was smaller (only one available as late as I booked) but to our great relief the rented oxygenator was there, along with a spare. Only thing was when Susan plugged it in, the first would not work--at all! So we switched to the second, realizing that we now had no back up.

Jamie's, the Italian specialty restaurant saved the day for us! Neither of us had ever eaten at Jamie's, and we called it the best shipboard meal we had ever had. And...we were the only patrons in the restaurant, so we were not lacking in attention! They thanked us for "reserving the place for the night!"

 I won't bore you with all our delightful courses, but...

These were my entreés. Delicious prawn linguine with a side of the best lasagna I ever tasted.

Susan's dessert

So went to bed full and happy, but the day was not through with us yet! Before I even got to sleep, a noxious odor began coming through my nasal cannula. It smelled very strongly like some kind of paint odor. I woke Susan and since we did not have a backup oxygenator, she went down to Guest Services at midnight  for help. Amazingly, the ship had one oxygenator and it was not in use. They had to open the infirmary for her, and a doctor had to approve--at midnight. I count this as another miracle in my life. The oxygen company did not have an outlet at either of our stops. I could have used my portable oxygen machine, but it is not a continuous flow like I require at night.

For the remainder of our trip we had three (3!) oxygenators in our small room. Well, one was in our even smaller closet.

They do not seem as small as they look here when one is having to navigate around them. That's one back there in the corner. And the white one is the ship's.

The best part of our room:

Our balcony

We had breakfast out here!

And look who we were thinking of!

My lunches were, shall we say, unusual. Susan got them for me, and she knows just what I like! Both these plates are mine

We love the Windjammer. We can get whatever wild combo we want! Her plates looked much the same, only with some healthier stuff!

It was hard not to think about what would be facing us when we got home on Saturday. Susan watched the weather all week. She and Rob decided he would fly down to Houston, pick up my car, and drive us home if possible.

On formal night we had dinner and saw a production show.

The show was outstanding and very entertaining!

We saw the ice show, too, always a favorite!

Just no pictures because wheelchair seating is up in the rafters. 

My driver toured me around frequently. We were on the 7th floor, and each floor had a little overlook.

"Free ice cream!" 

The last day...I went back to Jamie's!

I loved wearing the blue Royal Caribbean hoodie that I bought on the cruise last year! It is sparkly on the back! And carrying the little blue purse that Madeline bought me on the Disney Magic! My favorite OOTD!

Picture sparklies!

Our last dinner! Picture taken by the cutest waiter--we could just tell he would do a good job!

Getting off was as much of a beating as getting on!

But we made it with the help of Rob and his brother-in-law Todd.

The weather wasn't too bad until we got close to home. Then it looked like this!

We are so thankful for getting home safely. I'm especially thankful to my lady in waiting. For the midnight trip to Guest Services, and for all the impossible threshholds to wheel me over, all the appliances to keep charged up, for the trips to get my food, etc., etc., etc. Oh...and for fixing the back of my hair daily!
I couldn't have done a bit of it without my Susan!

Family Christmas Celebration - 2025

Today is December 27th, but it is only one day past our family celebration.  We gathered here at my Christmas wonderland.      I was all decorated for the occasion, but my kitchen was unfortunately out of service...or the cook was. So everyone got to choose his or her own Jersey Mike's sub and even chips! I know...so special!  But just wait for the dessert!

Susan had bought me a wonderful book, and Susannah sat right down to read it to Bear. I wish I could include a video, but it might be next Christmas before I succeeded. This was definitely a highlight of our Christmas--TO MIMI's HOUSE WE GO"

My favorite picture! The little angel looked up at me and smiled.

I will never forget this moment.

My grands gave me, drumroll please, a Nespresso machine! Madeline has one and has made wonderful coffees for me with it! Coffee has become a highlight of my days, and this opens up a whole new world of options!

Maddie gave Jay and Terri the cutest Funko characters named

Jay and Terri and resembling them! 

We had a good laugh over Terri's and Rob's matching gifts from me! They are mugs that say "Being your mother-in-law seems like gift enough...but here's a mug"

The only thing is that they go on to say,

Merry Christmas 2024.

Terri noticed! Rob said, "Did you forget to give them to us last Christmas?" "Why yes, I believe I did! I was hoping you wouldn't notice."

Terri and Jay gave Bear all the coolest toys du jour, including a fabulous book he's going to love, and this fascinating teether,

and, of course, his Mickey ears which are monogrammed

Barrett!

Susannah's and Nick's anniversary is coming up on New Year's Eve! People still comment on how good their wedding cake was, and it was made by Creme de la Creme. The bakery sells sample boxes containing small pieces of all their flavors. I got a couple of these for our dessert, and here Susie and Nick are "cutting the cake," sharing all their favorite flavors. Just the best cake ever! I was proud of my idea, if not of my baking or cooking!

I had enough for everyone to have at least two pieces, but we didn't even eat near that much. But never fear. I'm enjoying the rest.

One of the most exciting thing about my Christmas was having the lights shining in the 75 plus year old doll house my parents gave me as a child. My precious niece Diann and her wonderful husband Patrick analyzed the problem, bought the parts, and sent an electrician to fix it. It made my Christmas bright!

This is the sweetest, most loving, most generous family, if I do say so myself, and I do.

I'm certainly glad Susan is in this picture, since it seems to be

the only one which included her. And she's the one who always makes sure everyone has photo memories!

Insert shame face.

The Mimes may not have cooked and for sure had lots of help, but she was still as tired as if she had been Mrs. Claus. Here are just a few of the pretties that she didn't have the energy to snuff.

The Metzgers came and helped me plug in and switch on all of them and offered to come back and undo, but I decided to just let them shine away.

This was the first thing I saw when I walked into the kitchen this morning.

See the candles in the little houses?

All the little votives still going!

And this brightness operates by remote!

And to all a Good Night!

                         

If I Had My Life To Live Over Again

I haven't given this a lot of thought, so it may not be all that comprehensive, but there are a few things I would do differently, in no particular  order.

I would at least attempt to be bilingual. It would have been so beneficial in my life to have been able to speak Spanish. I marvel at people who can just fluently switch back and forth!

I would NEVER stop playing piano if I learned how as a child/teenager, which I did. I played Bach and Beethoven and Debussy.  I would hope my teachers would allow me to play something else which would be more fun and pure enjoyment throughout my life!

I would also learn to play an orchestral instrument--specifically the violin. When I see older folk playing in orchestras, I am so jealous. Jack gave me a violin for Christmas one year, but I had only 2 or 3 lessons, and my teacher up and moved away. (Not because of me I don't think.) Anyway, I never found another teacher.  There is just a different kind of joy and comraderie found in a joint venture of creating musical beauty.

I would travel to the Holy Land sooner. My life was changed by a visit there, but I was in my seventies before I went. My major benefactor, a.k.a. husband, Jack Stovall, was more cautious than I, so I did not press him to go. I was never afraid on my trip with   Gary and Sandy Smith and 17 other Fielder friends in 2013. It was the best trip of my life. Gary and Sandy are leading a trip next year, May of 2026. If you can, you should go! I would go again in a heartbeat if I could, but my old heartbeats aren't that dependable any more!!! Really...don't pass up an opportunity to go with the BEST--Gary and Sandy Smith from Fielder Church, guided by the incomparable Yuval Shemesh. 

 I would study the Bible more. And go to Bible Study Fellowship when I was younger (and thought I didn't have time.) And, like Billy Graham answered when asked this question, "I would pray more." But guess what? The Lord gave me another opportunity to do that today, and I'm ready if He grants me another tomorrow!

All in all, it's been a pretty wonderful life if these are all the changes I would make, hasn't it?

and...

At 88, it's not too late to

                                             AMEN, Mark!

A Weirdly Scary Experience

As will be no surprise to any of you, I get my hair done every Friday. I now park in a handicap spot practically in the front door of the salon. I am able to walk in without my walker, carrying my oxygen. Well, that makes it sound a bit too easy...I usually have to untangle the oxygen tubes and cords and my purse straps and get them all loaded on my person and under control before I crip in!

The particular day I want to tell you about, I was parked in the very first, closest spot to the door. When I came out all beautified,  I circled around the back of the car to get to the driver's door. There was a female person sitting in my car seat, looking studiously at her phone.

I stepped back from the window, but she didn't even look up. So I knocked on it. She looked up and I said, "You are in my car." She said, "No, I'm not. This is my car!" I was totally taken aback, so I walked to the back to see my license plate. When I walked back, I said again, "You are in MY car!" Now I, Linda Jane Lynn Stovall, pay attention to all those warnings and cautions y'all send me. I was afraid she had an accomplice lurking around plotting to steal my car or my car AND ME. But there was no one else around. Believe it or not that woman kept right on rudely insisting that was her car!

I had my phone in my hand and an absolutely incredulous look on my face, but I made the appropriate move. I went back into the salon. There was a lady sitting there, and I told her what had happened. She asked if I wanted her to call 911, and I said yes.  Before she could dial, the woman got out of my car and opened the salon door. She said that she had gotten in my car because it "looked just like hers." She never apologized or seemed overly concerned about the scare she had given an elderly lady who can't breathe!!! 

Then she quickly came up with the idea that it was my fault because my car was not locked. Now mind you, I watched her go get in her car. It was not even an Infiniti. And...this emblem was staring her in the face in my car. Surely hers was different! 

Also, this oxygen cart was on the passenger floor. Actually the mile long cord would have clued me in if nothing else!

 I don't think I said another word. Of course, I began to feel like it was my fault for not locking the car. At some point I realized that getting out of my car is considerably more complicated than it used to be. I knew there was nothing in it to steal. It was parked right in the front door.

But I never thought of the possibility of someone getting in.

Be sure to lock your car, friends!