A cruise with the gang, minus me

/ September 19, 2014
Karen at the right entrance for JetBlue.

Karen at the right entrance for JetBlue.

My dear wife Karen is aboard Jet Blue, about to taxi down the runway at Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport to head toward Fort Lauderdale.

Tonight, Bubba Gump’s Shrimp.

Tomorrow morning, the big ship of Royal Caribbean International. Key West. Other destinations and dinners and lunches and breakfasts. Friends we’ve cruised with for eight years now.

I was going, of course, since we signed up on this excursion planned by group leaders Brenda and Joanne, our dear Joanne and Brenda, shortly after we got off the big boat that had taken us from Baltimore to Bermuda and back last September.

But then I’d gotten that 40-hour-per in July through the temp agency. And optimistic man that I am, I thought I’d be at my desk today, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. So Karen and I offered my slot to our friend Diane, charter group member who’d dropped from the trips after the layoff from the big daily in January 2013. Diane was thrilled and quickly accepted. She was an easy choice, being Karen’s traveling partner on one of these darn things before I had entered the picture, for Cruise One.

When I got the word from my temp agency contact that the 40-hour-per company had ended my Monday-to-Fridays after eight weeks, it was two weeks to the day before this departure date.

I would not ask for the trip back from Diane. That’s just not my style.

Yes, worrier, I have my documents. Thank you.

Yes, worrier, I have my documents. Thank you.

It was very odd packing Karen’s suitcase into the car this morning, worrying if she had her passport and plane ticket and all the other traveling necessities. Yes, she assured me, the usual holder of the above, fretter about all, as we sat in the car in our driveway, everything needed was in her possession.

“This is the last time I do this without you, though,” my dear wife said. “Only the girls getaway. Never the cruise. Not this.”

I agreed. Sadly.

Have much fun, my dear wife Karen. See you Thursday.

Have much fun, my dear wife Karen. See you Thursday.

Oh, I will be fine, hanging with Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle in our home in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. I’ve a movie and two jazz shows to see today, my beloved alma mater Maryland visiting my loved hometown team Syracuse in the Carrier Dome tomorrow, golf with my daughter and her boyfriend and his father on Sunday, golf again with my best friend on Monday, many blogs to write and read.

But do not think for a minute I will not be just a tad envious of those having a beer at Jimmy Buffett’s and then lobster tail in the ship’s dining room while I’m having a beer on my recliner and then Hungry Man on my recliner.

Have you had to cancel out on a big trip and then watch a traveling partner go on without you, and if so, where did they go? Have you ever been to Key West, and if so, what was your favorite spot? What’s your favorite TV dinner?

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56 thoughts on “A cruise with the gang, minus me”

  1. As I’ve said many times, you are quite the gentleman! And super kind too. 🙂 I like the picture of Mrs. B letting you know that she had everything she needed and under control. So sweet how she never wants to leave you again for this type of trip. That’s what I call, AMOR! 🙂 We will keep an eye on you (no cooking Bubba Gump’s Shrimp at midnight, please!) For Angie’s sake! 🙂

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  2. Aww, poor Mark! 😦 And poor Karen! 😦 You should get in your car right now and drive to Key West and meet her boat and surprise her! 😉 Yes, been numerous times to Key West. I like the daytime touristy stuff more than the Duval Street nightlife. Pizza is the best TV dinner. 🙂

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  3. Oh ugh, Mark! Yes, our family divides and conquers all the time. Sometimes I’m the one leaving, sometimes I’m left behind. But there is something sweet about supporting our loved ones to go and have a good time, even when we can’t join them. I’m OK with throwing a pity party, just a little one, which usually concluded with a cold beer and a rich dessert. No tips on TV dinners but you might want to keep in mind the beer & dessert option 🙂

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    • Karen and I texted during the Maryland-Syracuse football game yesterday, she getting on the ship and having her first “drink of the day” and lunch and me keeping her up to date on the scoring. It was fun! Now, though, she’s hopefully too busy. I bet I get a text and photos from Key West, though. We have history at that port together! You are right, the support is the thing. Beer and dessert. I just wrote that down, Angie Mc. Now I have to go get ready to play golf with my daughter and her boyfriend and his father. No woe is me! 🙂

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  4. Thank heavens that there’s enough to keep you out of mischief in Syracuse until Karen returns. Sure the parting is sad. But the reunion will be marvelous. 😉

    Dave and I did go to Key West several years ago during Spring Break. I hope that you do get to see it with Karen in the near future – a fun place with lots of history, plus Ernest Hemingway’s house and descendants of his six-toed cats. Not to mention all the fascinating characters that you’ll meet while you take in those gorgeous sunsets.

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  5. It tore me up for a bit, until I saw you have already taken in a movie, you have multiple musical plans and golf time, too. I think, as others have expressed, “Distance makes the heart grow stronger!” By the way, as you listen to a jazz band or two, while out and about, how about replacing that Hungry Man frozen meal, I am sure it is the best way to make you find a happy filled tummy, with an ordered out, take-out of some kind or other. Or get the ‘kids’ to join you in a meal out, with shrimp or lobster. I know most don’t really feel they compare, but I like Red Lobster and ate with my good friend, Bill, last Friday evening… just the way to make you feel a little less ‘deprived!’ Enjoy your ‘bachelor’ moments, being able to do what you want when you want… including sleeping in! Smiles, Robin

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  7. I hope you have some good times ahead Mark. Being alone with a dog isn’t the greatest, but it could be a lot worse. What if you didn’t have the dog??? And this could be a good time to learn some basic cooking skills. Just think about how you could surprise Karen with a home cooked meal when she returns home, all tired and worn out from the trip. BTW, I’m back home, all tired and worn out, so I know what a great surprise it would be if someone brought me a nice home cooked meal. Too bad I’m almost the only person in the building who still cooks though. Oh, well, tomorrow I’ll cook something good, and it will be okay again.

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      • He’s gone forever Mark. He doesn’t have an apartment to come back to. And I was gone so long I forgot my stove temp runs hot, so I burned my fish, which is kinda funny, considering they still say he blew up his apartment with fish. Mine was still edible, although a bit dry, and it definitely didn’t blow up on me, but I need more practice with that darn stove. I don’t think I’ll forget about the temperature again though. ‘Specially since I love fish.

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  8. Mark, you are one of a kind–generous and someone who makes the best of things, always the optimist. Enjoy your bachelor time, your wife is lucky to have a guy like you! 🙂

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    • Thanks Ermigal. I had a super-full first day, and today, the done for Maryland-Syracuse. Busy is very good. Have a great weekend, my friend in B’ville. Tomorrow I’m playing golf at Seneca Knolls with my daughter and her boyfriend and his father. They are from B’ville, the Venditti’s. Maybe you know them. If it rains, we’re just going to eat breakfast.

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  9. oh that’s terribly sad, though something tells me you’re good. Nothing wrong with your dog, beer, recliner, and TV Dinner. Perhaps this will be in your top 10 of lovely weekends 🙂

    Why yes, I do have a twist-and-turn now that you ask. Guess who didn’t make it to her bluegrass and whiskey seminar? Me, that’s who. Traffic from Chicago to KY was a nightmare–both accidents (thankfully not us) and construction. And then there’s that pesky time change that affects some of Kentucky, but not others. When the ticket said 4 p.m. start time, they did not mean 4 p.m. CST. Dernit. But whaddya do? We ate, we drank, we’ve been merry. Just gotta roll with it.

    Fave tv dinner? I especially liked the one with the fake meatloaf and fake mashed potatoes and fake brownies 🙂

    Hope you’re enjoying your solo time!

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    • Liz! How about getting a hotel in Kentucky! Dagnabbit!! Well you did the next best thing when you got there. Roll with it. And it wasn’t you two flat on the highway.

      Yeah, I’ve eaten that meatloaf mystery platter. You forgot the bouncy little corn pebble/marbles!

      I enjoyed day one. Movie/jazz concert/second jazz concert. Day two: college football game. Ahem. Woe is me?

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  10. Mark you are a beautiful man. 🙂 I hope Dear Wife Karen has a wonderful time, I’m sure Diane is GREATLY appreciating you right now. 🙂 I’ve not had to cancel out on plans to travel with my husband. But I’ve had stay back while he’s gone on a few trips. I would never ever have him not go, and though I always wish to be with him sometimes I just can’t. So I want him to have a great time. Here’s to two weeks of blogging, reading, working, and being a wonderful friend. 🙂

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    • Good thing it’s only six days, Colleen. If it was two weeks, I’d be grumpy, mean, nasty, cussin’ spittin’ swearin’ …

      Just kidding.

      Have a great day, says me! 🙂 Thanks, Colleen. They’re getting ready to get on the ship, and I’m going to that big football game, so all is well.

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      • Karen wishes it was two weeks. 🙂 The game was a big Maryland win, bad for Syracuse. I am way behind on blogs, too. I read a week’s worth of yours tonight and loved them all. But felt ashamed at the same time, of course. 😦

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      • No shame for a full life! 🙂 I’m just now getting to comments from two days ago….maybe three? And still have blogs waiting on me. Suddenly there is a boom in my activity and I’m grabbing on to it. 🙂 I’m honored you read a weeks worth!!!! I am sure Dear Wife Karen wishes it was two weeks as long as you were with her. 🙂

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  13. I cannot help but think sometimes the timing of these things happens for a reason. A weekend alone. A weekend to think and absorb what’s happened. A weekend to recharge and plan for the month/year ahead. Good things await, Mark:).

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  14. It’s hard to anticipate life’s twists and turns. You tried to prepare and then it twisted again. As usual, it sounds like you have a ton of plans. I only have planned Sunday morning, but until then, I will wing it. Beer in a recliner sounds good, too. I went to Key West in 1997 to spread my grandmother’s ashes, per her wish, so it was a family trip in a hot and humid bus and several rainshowers. But as we sipped wine on a rented yacht, it was a lovely sunset as the dolphins swam by. And of course, there were black beans and rice, pork and plantains to feed us, so that was just fine. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

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  15. So sorry you missed your trip. What a blessing you are to the woman who gets to go though Mark! I’m pretty sure that I would have told the 40 hour per company when they hired me that I had a trip booked that I would be going on… 🙂

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      • Actually in Columbus visiting. Our dancer had a show last night…an outside venue with a 4 piece string quartet and a Led Zeppelin tribute band. All were excellent (but very loud). More people my age rockin out to Zep tunes. Funny thing is, there was another Zeppelin tribute band playing 2 blocks away at a different outside gig…only in Columbus!

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      • Well that’s a great trip, DJ. Ballet to Led Zeppelin is quite a thrill when you have blood in the game! Nice. Whole lotta love goin’ on there, my friend. I hope the two Led Zep bands didn’t clash, though. Have a good drive back.

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  18. i hope that both of you enjoy your time, doing what you’re doing and have a lovely reunion when you are back together. we can never predict what will happen and i think you did the right thing, but it still must sting a bit. it sounds like you’ll be busy, with all good things, but i know it’s not the same. i guess see it as a reminder, how much you mean to each other, and how shared experiences are so important to both of you. in the meantime, enjoy your weekend. as for almost canceling a trip, well, you’ve triggered another blog idea, mark –

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    • Karen has already texted me a photo of she and Diane as “two wet rats” in the 80 degree Florida sun, I and just got back from enjoying the early matinee showing of “This Is Where I Leave You,” so we are on track for your suggestion of separate but equally great weekends, Beth. And, hey, you too over yonder, as you ponder another good blog idea!

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      • I’m good! I went on a little blog hiatus this summer. Adjusting to a lot of changes in my household and stuff.

        I’ve missed everybody! But now the first post I read of yours is that you’re missing a cruise to Key West???

        Bummer.
        But you’re a good guy.

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      • I’ve commented on some very heavy posts of yours a few months ago. One, the really dramatic one on the sisters site in particular, has had me worried since. But lately you seem OK on Buick/Lexus. And that makes me feel more OK, too.

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      • Mark. You are a dear, dear man.

        Yes, the post in the Sisterwives catapulted me into making the biggest change of my life. My Ex, who used to live with me most of the time, and take care of the house, while I ran my business – well, he had to go.

        So life is very different. I depended on him as the main caretaker for my son while I worked. Life is very very different. My son and I are getting used to doing everything ourselves. I’m really struggling to keep it all going.

        I know that it was the right thing to do. But it also was the hard thing to do. I feel like I’m running backwards all the time.

        Let’s email and chat, shall we? I feel bad that I worried you. This was a challenging summer, and things are finally falling into place. xoxoxoxo

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  20. Classy gentleman, Mark, not trying to grab the cruise back. Nope, definitely not your style to do that. But oh I feel your pain! Having taken my first cruise last fall, and looking forward to another trip to the Caribbean in November, I know what you’re missing. You’re getting lots of good karma points, my friend. 🙂

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    • Thanks, Kate. I hope you love your November cruise to the Caribbean. I loved my trip last September out of Baltimore. Easiest access port out of all we’ve experieced. And destination Bermuda was quite desireabe, too.

      I hope you are right about those karma points, my friend.

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  21. We’re Batching it together Mark! Karen will have a great time, she’ll be fine – and she’ll miss you. I was trying to think of something positive to say, but when you’ve a got a good woman like Karen, every day with her is a joy. The only thing I can think of is how great it will be for both of you when Karen returns. You are a kind man, Mark, giving your ticket to someone who wouldn’t have a chance to go otherwise. Great post.

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