Back at it again: traveling all around, domestically and also foreign, during the almost entirety of February 2023. I was in NY a total of 6 full days in February, in fact, and disliking winter, this was comforting. So now back to blogging, and reminiscing on a great time! This is truly the life, and damned if I can even regret my wretched spinsterhood doing it! Balderdash, I say! I have complete and total freedom to go and spend, decide destinations, accommodations that r luxurious, enjoying fantastic foods from all over the world…it’s actually quite freeing to be me, unencumbered, and seeing friends as I please, w no one complaining in the background. And even seeing my idols as well, on the annual Star Trek the Cruise, this time #6. Interacting w the A list stars, and some B listers as well, but all r idols to me, a real Trek acolyte.
I saw legendary William Shatner, now nearing age 92 years, Oscar winner Doug Jones, and had 3 hugs, magnificent ones, w him (!), run ins in elevators, in the halls, also Jonathan Frakes, Denise Crosby, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, John DeLancie, the Q, Ira Steven Behr, showrunner for Deep Space 9, Max Grodenchik, chats w Jeffrey Combs, Andrew Robinson, Nicole DeBoer, photo opportunities too, so many…and autographs. Lines, always lines, but now they have streamlined it, to allow handicap access quicker for those who have difficulty walking or standing. Gave thanks to all of them, and even a 10 person cast pic of the almost entirety of Deep Space 9 cast! Love them! Chase Masterson, Armin Shimerman, Nana Visitor, Terry Farrell, Cirroc Lofton, others aforementioned…and many of them r on Cameo too, a video production service, that u can hire an actor, to do a video for a friend, customized, for a fee. I got my 1st ever last year from my cruise buddies Pauline & Daniel, from dear Nana Visitor! What a thrill that was! My cast pic has 4 autographs so far on it, out of the 10 pictures, because the lines r tiring and cumbersome too, during the whole week on ship. I purposely limited it to who was essential to me, like newbies who joined us this year for the 1st time.
I am a 5 timer on the Star Trek the Cruise, and am now hooked on it. Signed up for the next one too, on board, and next year, the cruise runs slap into another cruise that I had pre-arranged, w friends, to go to the West Indies, all around the Caribbean islands, in February, and the Star Trek one begins on the day the other one ends! So I have to book a midnight hours departure from San Juan, Puerto Rico, into Port Canaveral, FL, to catch the 2nd cruise! How about them apples?! Yup, quite the life. I apologized to my dear friend for the inconvenience of having her roomie leaving like 3am, to catch a 6am or 7am flight time. Port Canaveral is quite far from the Orlando Airport actually, and requires extra time to negotiate transportation to the cruise ship directly. At least I am experienced w this sort of issue. Being a world traveler has its perks and joys. U learn to be flexible thus. And get some great pictures and memories in the process.
I also went to the Florida cities of Miami and Orlando vicinity too, 2 ports in the Bahamas as well, w bestie Susan preceding the Los Angeles trip which went down the Mexican Riviera, from Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan & Puerto Vallarta, before heading back to L.A…and finally home. It was just WONDERFUL! I love treating friends to good things w me, to go toast, sample new tastes and drinks, see what it is to have a butler on Perfect Day at Coco Cay, which truly is, when u have a private cabana w the beach right there, and an infinity pool too. We saw such beautiful wildlife too, including a hermit crab, iguanas, magnificent frigatebirds, unknown what species it was, until learned later….and the lovely sunsets too. Such a sight different from my home, which is surrounded by 6 story brick buildings, and which obscures a lot of the sky. And we swam w the dolphin too! Love that so much! My 3rd time doing that, in life. Now they r at Weimanalo, Hawaii, Cozumel, Mexico and also Nassau, the Bahamas, well, Blue Lagoon Island division of Nassau. We were VIP’s doing that activity, me and Susan.
Do I sound happy?! Well, maybe being your own boss is the key to happiness. The truth is that we often see an alternative state of say being married as being superior to this kind of life, but that is just nonsense actually. Many women find themselves doing everything to please their mate, or keep him at bay, w regards to controlling behavior, or dominance. U need to be very lucky to get a man who regards u as an equal, as many do not. The US culture is unfortunately steeped in misogyny, w unfair costs to women, for feminine products, lower pay and benefits, unequal, valuing women for youth and slimness only, plus fertility, also time limited….and we older women have much to contribute too…as wise women, for the coming generations, to teach, to give an example, and to arrange group gatherings too.
I am a perpetual travel organizer, for myself as well as friends, and a reunion organizer, and a writer, emeritus as a Registered Nurse, still licensed, a Spanish teacher, a photographer, a former Real Estate Manager, former Investment Professional, and no one calls my shots anymore, only me, w consideration for others’ sensibilities and preferences. I like doing good for others and am gratified that I can, to make even more joy in the world! Indeed, I am blessed, no matter what is missing, and I realize that.
Trips to come this year and next: 3x to Aruba, Curacao, Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, St Maarten, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, Antigua & Barbuda, US Virgin Islands; Lisbon & Porto, Portugal, Salamanca, Spain, other ports in Portugal; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Alaska: Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay National Park; Montauk, NY; Atlantic City, NJ; Italy: Rome, Naples, Messina (Sicily), Crotone, Bari, Venice, Lake Maggiore/Baveno, Lake Como, Milan, Sibenik, Croatia; Los Angeles, CA, w stops in San Francisco, Monterey, San Diego & Ensenada, Mexico; Port Canaveral, FL. And in the meantime, there’s great NYC too: MJ the Musical, Blue Man Group, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in concert, plus Bono too, in an intimate setting. Madonna to come also!
If u had a husband w the pursestrings, could u do all this? Probably not. Yup, blessed.
marshaenewman 