A New Orleans Angel

We were arriving in New Orleans in the rain after a Caribbean cruise . I always feel anxious disembarking from the cruise.  It's not so much leaving a pampered life style behind as it is being in long lines of grumpy people who are worried about their flights home, finding their luggage, getting someone to help them get the luggage to the curb or they just need another cup of coffee.  I have more anxiety than most because I feel like it is all up to me---getting the luggage and managing my husband Dave in a wheel chair, navigating the whole process.

I had left Dave in a wheel chair on the curb with our  small travel umbrella and our luggage, as I scampered over the railroad tracks to get our van on the cruise parking lot in a light rain.  I had a pretty good idea where our car was, having spotted our silver mini-van from the cruise ship and taken a photo—wow, was I wrong.  I wandered up and down the aisles searching for our van getting wetter.  My anxiety was building as I thought of Dave just sitting there in the rain with our luggage AND I had at least a 30 minute drive from the parking lot to where he was since the street was one-way in a giant loop with lots of traffic and stop lights.  

I started praying, “Please, God, help me find our van” as I continued searching up and down the endless aisles.  After a few minutes an elderly man in a golf cart approached and asked, "Do you need help."  I started crying, “I can’t find our van my husband is in a wheel chair on the curb getting wet and it’s going to take me at least 30 minutes to get him because I can’t wheel him over the railroad tracks.”  “Ma’am, let’s first find your van and then we’ll get your husband.”  

We found the van which wasn’t even close to the area I was searching in.  Then, he said, “Let’s go get your husband.”  He took us over the tracks, loaded the luggage, Dave, and the wheelchair into the cart and took us back to the van.  He put the suitcases and wheel chair in the van while I helped Dave get in. I could feel that weight of anxiety slowly slipping away.

Before he left, I tipped my rescuer $20 and said, “Thank you for  rescuing me—you are like an angel answering my prayers.” He looked at me with tears and said with a catch in his voice, “That means more to me than the tip.  Thank you.”  I often tell people, “my guardian angel is an elderly man in New Orlean riding on a golf cart." I try to remember that moment anytime I feel weighted down with anxieties and worries.  If God could send that man to rescue us in New Orleans, he will be there for this crisis too.

Port New Orleans to the Gulf

 One of the attractive features of taking a cruise out of New Orleans was sailing down the Mississippi.  I have always wanted to do it and someday I will do the rest of the river, but this was going to take me to the Gulf.  What I didn't realize was how long it was going to take.  We departed at 4 PM on the Serenade of the Seas, but the crew said we wouldn't be in the Gulf until midnight. Also being mid-winter, much of the journey would be in the dark.  Before we began the Natchez and Creole Queen paraded outside our balcony.

 But soon we were on our way through New Orleans.  Several times I remembered that this was the port my ancestor William Reed (Farncombe) entered the United States and he would have travelled this same route 150 years ago.

 I loved these maps on the television screen in our room, showing us where we were.

The haze in the sky along the horizon is from marsh fires.

St. Bernard Port

 I loved it all even in the dark.  The water looked like we were going through chocolate soft serve ice cream because it was so thick and brown.

At about 8 PM we were still in the Delta.

 Eventually, we went to bed and woke up to this!

New Year's Resolution

A friend posted this on Facebook and I decided to incorporate it into my New Year's Resolution.  I tend to worry about everything, overly plan---spending way too much time and energy on concerns that may not happen, and not nearly enough time on just enjoying life.

Cruise 2014:  I worried that we were taking too much, not taking enough.  I worried about the weather and driving in the winter several hundred miles.  I worried about what would happen when we got to the port.  Now, I was prepared with bins of easy to open food, blankets, flashlights.  I'd called the port authority several times, had a map of the area, made hotel reservations along the way, but still I worried.

Once we were on the ship, and I was relaxed, I had a great time just like always.  But then word started drifting down that New Orleans was poised for an ice storm.  I worried we couldn't get out; I worried that the locks on our car were frozen; I worried about getting Dave to where the car was parked with our luggage (no shuttle service); I worried about where I'd parked the car.  I only slept 4 hours.

The disembarkation went great.  We got up at 7:30, ate breakfast at 8:00 and were off the ship by 8:30.  But that was it.  For me to get Dave and the luggage, I was told I would have to drive 30-45 minutes down one way streets, over frequently used train tracks and through the masses getting off a Carnival cruise.  I left Dave with the suitcases and headed out to find our car.  I found it and drove aimlessly up and down the aisles not being able to find the exit.  I prayed.

Soon a  snaggle-toothed man in a golf cart waved me down.  When I told him what I needed to do, he took charge, "Park right here, get in the cart, let's go get your husband.  You can't drive all over New Orleans."  We bounced and lurched our way through the port, got Dave and the suitcases loaded, found the car, packed it up.  I turned to the man and said, "You were the answer to my prayers."  He smiled widely as I handed him a generous tip as I said, "Thank you, angel".

Today, my friend who posted the first quote, posted this one which is even better for me.  ". . .Just breathe, and have faith that everything will work out for the best."  That is my New Year's resolution!

Before Disney Wonder Sail-Away

 We arrived in Galveston a few days early staying at the Hilton on Seawall Blvd. which was a great place to stay. Kroger, Walmart, IHOP, Landrys, Rainforest Cafe and the beach were all within walking distance.  The kids really enjoyed the pool and practiced snorkeling before their excursions on the cruise.

At night, there was musical entertainment which everyone enjoyed.

 Embarkation was so quick and smooth (after Rachel's passport scare) we never even took photos. Soon, we were in the Buffet having lunch, checking out the ship and enjoying the warm November day.

 When we got to our rooms, we discovered some great Disney swag since this was our 2nd cruise.

Shipboard Activities

 Some may think of "Day's at Sea" as being just walking the promenade or sitting in chairs watching the ocean go by, but especially on this Disney cruise, there was plenty to do.

You could meet the random Disney character like Alice in Wonderland,

 Hit the buffet for an extra sundae,

 Play shuffle board or swim with "new" friends.

Attend a cooking class,

Disney Cruise Embarkation Nov. 10

  Let's back it up to earlier in the day. . .

First, Leah presented us with our Disney T-shirts which included a onesie for the one "hitch-hiking", not due to arrive until May!  Yes, the Warrens are expecting #3.

Then, we took our suitcases out to the front of our hotel Inn at Waterpark in Galveston, where a shuttle was going to pick us up.  Eli played min-golf out in front while we waited for the shuttle.

While waiting until our 11:30 AM embarkation, we had many photo opportunities.

While our rooms were still getting ready, we went to the top deck, had lunch and explored (very healthy, delicious sandwiches at Goofy's Galley)

Celebrity Eclipse

 I loved the ship we were on.  Someone said, "If you have to be on a ship for 8 days at sea, you want it to be this ship."  I loved how the bathroom had "night lights" on when the lights were turned off.

I wasn't the only one seen photographing the public bathrooms---the sink drains were all across the back of the sink.

 They had an iLounge with iPad help, Apple TV and even sold Apple products (reseller)

 The center elevator showed all of the beautiful lounges on each floor including a tree hanging in a ball which I did not get a photo of. Speaking of elevators, they were fast, quiet and the whole canopy lit up when one arrived---we never had to guess which elevator was for us.

 The dining room was elegant, and the Martini Bar was almost magical with ice everywhere.

 It was a very popular gathering place for many before and after dinner.

 The indoor swimming area had dancing water and solar panels.

 We had a wonderful waiter and fun dinner companions.

 Rhoda and Gary made us laugh every night when they put on their reading glasses with head lights. And, we had a beautiful table right near a window.

 There was  some very nice art in the hallways. And a Cirque d' Soleil-type show which was as amazing as the ice show we saw on the Royal Caribbean Navigator.

 The icing on the cake was the ship celebrating my birthday a day early (my birthday was disembarkation day).

Would we go on another trans-Atlantic---sure, if the ship and people were as nice as the Celebrity Eclipse!