2007 CRUISE NARRATIVE pg2

It was an ominous site to see the local vendors wearing blue surgical masks because of the bad air quality due to the fires. We were beginning to understand just how critical the fires had become in a short 24 hours and many on the cruise were getting phone calls from their family inquiring about our location and safety. Tuesday evening was our formal attire night in the dinning room and I must say everyone “cleaned up real nice”. Check out our group photo and see.

Wednesday morning our ship docked in Avalon Bay. Some stayed on the ship and took advantage of The Spa for a facial and massage; others gambled in the casino and shopped in the boutiques aboard ship. Live music played out by the pool where others caught some rays and read while the eager waiters were offering “the drink of the day”. For those of us that went ashore, we enjoyed the slow pace of Santa Catalina Island looking for souvenirs in quaint shops. For the hearty walkers, like Sammie and Carol Ford who made the assent to higher elevations, God bless you, you have my respect. The Griffins however, joined the McNeills, Dunaways, and the Lewis for a modern day “Mr. Toads Wild Ride” to the top of the island in our rented golf carts with John and Squeaky as designated drivers. It seems you just can’t take the competitive spirit out of an athlete no matter how old he is or what game he is playing. The crazy ride was well worth it as we had marvelous views of the bay and our ship when we reached the pentacle of the island. Wednesday night after dinner many took part in watching a younger crowd taking lessons from the cruise dance instructor to learn how to swing dance. Obviously when the lessons were over, our alumni group from Burroughs had to get out there and show the young folks just how the swing dance was really done. Mrs. McLean would have been proud of all of us. We closed out the evening by enjoying the midnight Chocolate Buffet which was a beautiful sight for our eyes to behold and a trip to Disneyland for our pallets. I felt like we were walking through Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when looking down from two floors above and watching people move like cogs in a wheel.

Thursday morning we docked in Ensenada, Mexico. There were buses to take small groups down into town for some serious shopping for the made in Mexico treasures. A few took the excursions to see a little more of the scenery in the area however, so many in our group had been to Ensenada before that they chose to stay aboard ship and just enjoy this last day of leisure at sea. After our dinner was served this last night, the staff of our waiters and matre’d gave their final performance and sang to us. These young people come from all over the world sign on and work the cruise for six months at a time. This is a testament to world relations. If these varied cultures can come together and work in harmony and camaraderie, there must still be hope for this planet. After the final farewell stage show, Jim Fallgatter arranged for us all meet in the lounge to say our final goodbyes to one another. We all agreed that it was a wonderful cruise but not because of the places we visited but because of the people who shared it with us. We were there to celebrate and that we did. We celebrated in finding a lost classmate Jean Decker (Gina Segovia) who had not seen any on us since 1958 when she moved away from Ridgecrest and we lost track of her. We celebrated in making new friends, like Mike Fullerton’s wife Cheryl, which means we will now make a trip to Anchorage soon to visit. We celebrated life’s milestones like birthdays and anniversaries and rekindled friendships with college roommates. What is better than to spend precious time enjoying good food and wine in the company of those that were so much a part of our life? I celebrate you one and all. Thank you for celebrating each other and cruising with the Class of ’62...... Patty Pahkama-Griffin