2020 IN REVIEW

Written by Captain Mary on Friday, December 18, 2020


    January arrived and I was filled with excitement. My grandchildren would arrive and fill my home with sounds of youth and curiosities about life and the world around us. This year, the year of my official retirement and boy do I have travel plans for this year. I have planned an amazing trip to the other side of the world. Starting in Singapore and circling around Malaysia and Indonesia and then go to Japan perhaps. My grandchildren and myself, experiencing what Asia has to offer.

      Perhaps that last sentence was a bit of a give away, what did Asia have to offer after all? As, it happens, the trip of amazement and wonder was cancelled 20 days before we were to arrive at our destination. This trip was to be a gift to my grandson, Samuel, a way to show my grandchildren other parts of the planet. Shyanne, was already gifted such a trip, but to Europe, and now I have created a monster, she finds herself on many of my excursions. When a person breaks out of the box of our mundane existence and begins to explore, something explodes in our life. The world gets bigger and better as we reach beyond our familiar surroundings and actually get to be part of it. So much better then watching the Discovery Channel. 

    The world as we knew has just changed with the onset of this world-wide virus. I can't say that I get involved in the hype and panic that the news and propaganda want us to hear. I can't stand looking into peoples faces and can no longer see smiles or frowns, an absence of expression makes life around me very depressing. As things progressed into quarantines things got worse. Just when you think it can't get worse it does. I don't want to get into so many of my conspiracy theories, although there are many, but it is hard to overcome an overall feeling of sadness everywhere I go. To see so many friends and family in fear, as if living with the fear of death is the new way of life. Should anyone live their life this way as if we all had terminal illnesses, and afraid of the person next to them giving them the plague. I wish that it was over, this virus that is not just killing people but destroying our happiness down deep in the depth of our souls. I am a staunch believer that life should be filled with as much happiness and love you can muster. With so much damage done to our lives, will we ever recover?

    I am lucky to have work when I want it, so I don't have the additional worries of not making ends meet on top of all the short comings and restrictions of today's lifestyle. I would have never guessed that I wouldn't be able to hug people that I love. This year I lost my little friend Bogey, my Maltese dog. I had to wait in the car while the vet assistant carried my little man to his death. I sat waiting in tears for them to bring him back to me, so he would get his proper burial at home. As I looked inside the cardboard box which they so carefully posed him and covered him like a sleeping beauty, I became hysterical over my loss, because at that moment I found myself more alone then I had ever been. I found at that moment that there are people in this world, pandemic or not who knew I needed a hug. My friends from the office came out and gave me a hug. Don't want to give names but I have the best veterinarian team in the world. 

    The months are slowly passing by, hope dwindling at each corner. The safe places are being replaced with violence, racism, and pure hate for our fellow man. My earlier predictions came true when the election began to heat up and the way we treated each other only declined more. I hate to say it, I also noticed that so many people have become clones following masses into stupidity. I guess this is what it feels like just before a civil war breaks out. I can only hope that it doesn't turn into World War 3 and we can see the errors of our current thought process before it's too late. 

    The holidays this year have come and gone, they just didn't have the happiness a family waits all year for. Most were cancelled just because I didn't have to think about all the people I miss, instead of enjoying them all I could see was the masked, social distanced people I use to see smile.

    So much has happened to crush my soul, yet I will always have my family who picks me up when I am having a hard time standing. I am smothered with hugs when I am with them, if I go to jail or die from a plague for this, then so be it. What has happened, getting in trouble for loving? 

    

    

    

    

CORONA VIRIUS VS POLITICS AND THE ECONOMY

Written by Captain Mary on Wednesday, March 11, 2020

CORONA
Why would I possibly care about something happening on the other side of the world????
The fact is I had been planning a 3 week excursion in honor of my grandson's graduation, the planning was over a year in the making. My excitement to see him on his first world adventure is what makes traveling all worth it. All that excitement, the time nearly here, 20 days to departure and guess what, our trip was cancelled. Our 3 week adventure around Asia, slashed into disappointment. Four of us horrified and empty, tried so hard to fill our time with another trip, I guess everyone had the same idea. Everything we tried was full.
I guess that answers my first question on why I would possible care what happens on the other side of the world!!
 
When I first heard about this virus and its location the first thing that came to my mind was that China was tired of the protestors. That they concocted this to stop the protestors. I thought for certain it was a political ploy.
 
 Before I go on with my story, I want to remind the readers that these are my own thoughts and opinions, and not based on anything else.  
 
I kept watching as the virus spread and I asked myself questions before making any definite conclusions. I am still not certain how this has become political and it seems as it has become part of the 2020 campaign. I have been listening to our representatives and my thoughts were that these people are behaving in a manner that is in my best interest. Or are they?? I can't help scratching my head when I listen to people talk, all I hear is the BLAME GAME. That doesn't seem to be productive or in any way helping the citizens that they are representing! 
 
I understand the financial ramifications for everyone, this effects so many. This virus has put the planet at a stand still. The businesses that are taking a hit could cost them everything, airplanes, cruise lines and anything related to travel. It effects the people who work for the travelers too. The dog sitters, the baby sitters, the lawn guys and so many others.
Now lets talk about the economy. It makes me sad that a group of people, you know who you are, those who play the stock market like a video game. I get it, always looking for that get rich quick scheme. So, these investors look for that tragedy that could stuff their pockets with green. In the meantime not giving a shit about the rest of the people. Carelessly, using a virus and the death of people to make money! What has this world come to, where is the compassion? Shame on you, not only did you sell your stock but you sold out America.
 
 

JUST ANOTHER STORY

Written by Captain Mary on Wednesday, March 11, 2020

As I grow older, I wonder if I have told all the stories there are to tell. I loved listening to my mom as she told stories about the old days, but her stories of adventure were few. I asked if she had dreams of traveling the world and such, what she said was that her life was her family and that was the dream that came true.
 
As the years passed I realize that I have out lived my mother and that is a gift, I also guess that her dream of a family is also my dream. I still can't get that travel bug out of my system, getting ready to go on another adventure to the Eastern Caribbean, with daughter and granddaughter. This is my way of sharing my life, instead of telling stories of continents and adventures.
 
The trip now a memory of beautiful locations and amazing landscape. The island people are wonderful and seem to figure out the simple life is the happy life.
We visited St. Kitts, Antiqua, Barbados, Martinique, St. Thomas. V.I., and Grand Turk.
Ten amazing days of perfect weather and local cuisine, hopping around the island to see the sights. Taking cruises is just like a tasting at a wine bar. So many flavors and never enough to bore you. I find it the greatest way to explore where I want to stay longer in the future.
 
St. Kitts
 
Traveling with family is always a way to share life long stories. It is proof that I am not exaggerating, which my family thinks I do. They become a witness to my amazement and I become a witness to theirs. Enthusiasm should never be confused with exaggeration.