The arms dealer

You meet such interesting people on board a cruise ship. 80 members of the Sundance Film Festival boarded in Aruba yesterday. They will be screening new films in the ship’s movie theater all week. I’ve met several cardiologists, dentists and oral surgeons, horse farmers, psychologists, and my personal favorite, the arms dealer – yes, as in “I buy and sell weapons systems internationally”. Yikes!

Tonight was formal night and time for the escargot and frog legs (neither for me), and my favorite dessert, the Grand Marnier souffle. Needless to say, any plans for using these past few weeks to get in shape for Nepal stayed on shore the first time we hit Tortola 14 days ago! I’m certain I will need serious liposuction on all limbs (or a large wheelbarrow) by the time this cruise is over. Thank goodness Delta charges only for extra checked luggage and not for extra body weight!

Everyone does dress pretty spiffy on formal night. Most men actually wear their own personal tuxedo and the ladies wear lots of sparkles (on their dresses and on their throats, ears , fingers and wrists). Here are some pictures from dinner tonight.

(Oh, I got an invitation to join Captain Zander for cocktails in his cabin tomorrow evening, as well. I’m certain that same invitation went out to all 600 of his close personal friends on board.) He is German, and I visited with him in his very own language earlier this evening during a meet and greet for repeat Crystal cruisers. One lady who has 113 cruises was introduced and celebrated, and another lady who is currently on the sister ship, Serenity, is now on her 233rd Crystal cruise (these ladies must have more money that Bill Gates!). One woman on board our ship now is here for nine months. I suppose when I need to go to an assisted living home, this is where I want to come - room, board, entertainment, medical care, including drugs, constant personal attention – definitely not a bad deal!

I think I’m ready to come home. My tan is just about brown enough and I miss my furry felines. I’ve already begun to think about all the paperwork and get-into-shape work I have to do when I get home – but I’ll be home, in my own little bed, with my own little cats and my own fireplace and my own greek yogurt and cole slaw and baked chicken and no Grand Marnier soufflé, no peanut butter and chocolate milk shakes with warm oatmeal raisin cookies and no freshly baked croissants or scones with Austrian strawberry jam and fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

One of the 5th Dimension gets on tomorrow to do his show tomorrow evening. Tony nominated, his bio says. Ought to be good, but everything here is just that way anyway.