Irenic Cruising on Board Coral Princess (A Critique)

 

irenic - adjective - aiming or aimed at peace (Oxford Languages)

With so much unrest in the world, where can you find peace? Ironically, it may be found in the most unlikely of places: cruise ships that tour the world. Although perhaps unintentional, the Coral Princess, the ship that I am on at present, is a irenic microcosm. As a solo passenger, I have purposely sought out companions and have found numerous persons (primarily couples) from around the world. So far, I have met folks from Canada, Austria, Germany, Vietnam, Croatia, Russia, the Philippines, Brazil, the U.K. as well from all over the U.S. All have two things in common: a fondness for luxury liners and an adventurous spirit. In short, we cruisers are a kind of United Nations aimed at exploring the globe and having a good time doing it.

What has fascinated me has been the vast number of return customers who have pledged to remain in the club year after year. (Obviously, they have money to burn.) Just about everyone I have met so far (maybe about twenty people, if not more in three days) has been on a number of cruises, particularly with Princess. Some try to spend at least three months per year on one or more passenger ships. Although I like the idea of being on moving water, I wouldn't want to spend more that a week per year on a ship. And I don't intend to continue my relationship with Princess. 

My first impressions of the line owned by Carnival have not been very favorable. Despite an effortless check-in (but only because I got to the port late) and kind, helpful employees, it took six hours for my bags to find my inside cabin. Over a year ago, when I booked the cruise, I requested a stateroom away from any 24-7 lounge. What can I say? I don't appreciate pulsating bass lines turned up to eleven at eleven, my bedtime. Princess put me right above one of the most active entertainment spaces, and now won't move me to a quieter space. (I am looking into getting some of my expensive fare refunded. I doubt it will happen.) In addition, the company refuses to make dining accommodations for single individuals. How hard would it be to set aside one large, labeled table in one of the many onboard restaurants just for singles?  Instead, we wind up "sharing" tables with married couples, which is not egregious, but we would feel more comfortable with like-minded people. Which brings me to the food. It is not bad, but it is not good either. 

On a positive note, I have been impressed with the WiFi, the technology of Medallion, a magnetic, coin-like device worn like a necklace that allows one to open any door and even charge merchandise to a credit card. Also I am enjoying a lengthy agenda of onboard activities from which to choose on the days out at sea. It reminds me of summer camp, but most of the pastimes are for adults. There is everything from movies to pickle ball, shuffleboard, cards, tai chi, Zumba, fitness classes (for a price), seminars on everything from cooking to maintaining your waistline while cruising, trivia, music (we in the Coral Princess pop-up choir even have a performance schedule), swimming, and ukulele lessons (ukuleles provided, no extra charge). (In terms of the offerings, I provided about a third of them.) And of course, there is top-notch entertainment nightly and bands that play in the various bars from 9 a.m. until midnight daily. Needless to say, there are few five-star hotels out there that offer so much for one all-inclusive price. Which is why there are so many return customers. 

At the end of the day, though, I think that after this journey is all over, I will return to Royal Caribbean for more seafaring adventures. The service, accommodations, and food are much better. All cruisers have a favorite line that they keep coming back to, usually for personal reasons. 

#PrincessCruises, #review, #cruising, #blog, #blogger

An-tic-i-pa-tion

 

anticipation - noun - expectation or prediction; action of anticipating (Oxford Languages)

I can't remember just how many years ago I set out to dream, plan, execute the number one item on my bucket list. Neither can I recall how many years ago that I first conceived of the idea. What bucket list? What idea? What does she mean? Have I managed to hold you in a state of an-tic-i-pa-tion yet? I hope so. 

Hold on because here it comes: Tomorrow I'll be channeling James Cook who explored the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, charting islands in 1768 and for about ten years thereafter. Interestingly enough, his initial itinerary was very similar to ours as we contemporary cruisers on the Coral Princess will be starting the grand tour of the Pacific in Hawaii and ending in New Zealand and Australia before heading up to explore most of Asia, Alaska, and the coast line of the United States. The ship of 2,000 will be floating at a speed of about 25 mph to 28 countries and fifty ports of call. It will take 115 days or just about four months. I have never been away from home for any longer than a month, which is conceptually daunting, but I will be taking it in stride. What other way is there? Gotta stay in the moment and make it worthwhile.

In 2023 (the year I should have gone but couldn't as I was contemplating a major move across the country), the itinerary for this same cruise looked very different. Originally, it was supposed to be more of a world cruise including nearly all of the continents. However, as the war broke out in Gaza, the ship was forbidden to go through the Suez Canal, a complete and utter game changer. Naturally, I was disappointed as I had wanted more of a complete experience. I had wanted to feel the mileage, the size of the earth before I grew too old to venture out there solo. I put away dollars for a long time, creating a version of a Christmas Club just for the trip, something that you are welcome to do as well. Since I was determined to set out on this particular ship, a round trip departing in Los Angeles and returning to Los Angeles, my current hometown, I settled for what became the third itinerary. As I am going as a single person, the cost was double, about 50K, but still pretty reasonable considering the trip is all inclusive. Everything you can think of is included. If I don't buy any souvenirs, I won't have to spend a dime. I will tip the tour guides, though. 

On 1/21 at 12:30 p.m., I will be joining a culture of cruisers, mainly retired couples who spend much time vacationing on ships. Some even live on them full time, something that I don't see myself doing as an individual who doesn't drink alcoholic beverages (up to fifteen are included daily–yikes), play cards (or board games), consume specialty desserts twice a day (as advertised), or much in the way of gourmet food. I probably don't have much in common with my fellow passengers other than wanting to change the scenery. Escapism is big these days. I don't have to tell you why. However, we'll be in safe waters (I hope). And I hope the natives will be friendly. After all, money is a universal language. To earn enough to pay the bills, one has at least to fake congeniality. 

Heads-up: my blog posts from today until May 16th will be reflective of my adventures. I hope you will decide to join me on this once-in-a-lifetime escapade by way of "Word to Words." Between destinations, I'll be working on writing a romance novel set on and off of the ship. Stay tuned. 

#PacificCruise, #CoralPrincess, #travel, #blog, #personal essay, #blogger

Preserving the Visual Pleasure of Palm Springs

preserve - verb - to maintain in its original or existing state (Oxford Language)

Some of you (one or two?) who have been reading this blog religiously may recall that nearly two years ago, I sold my Jersey Cape Cod (built in 1939) to a Gen Z yuppy couple and relocated to SoCal. After a year, the two, who were originally head over heals with the design of the place, fell out of love and tore it down, only to replace it with a monolithic, modern McMansion. After at least two close friends of mine reminded me that in a capitalistic society, buyers have the right to do just about anything to the property after the deed has been signed over, I slinked away in silence with my tail between my legs, reluctant to acknowledge that they were right. 

Well, last weekend, I took the tail out from between my legs and used them (the legs) to do a celebratory dance when I discovered that in some American communities, there are laws that preserve the design aesthetics in residential neighborhoods. Palm Springs, California, the iconic second home of various classic and contemporary celebrities, is one such community.

According to City of Palm Springs.gov., homes in Palm Springs "must adhere to aesthetic and design codes, especially regarding exterior colors on main streets and hillsides to preserve the city's iconic Desert Modern style, with the city's Code Compliance division enforcing rules on building design, zoning, and appearance, to maintain community standards." Some of the former residences of legendary citizens, such as Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, and Sammy Davis, Jr. are designated as historic sites, adding another "layer of preservation for owners." If dilapidated houses must be torn down, they must be replaced with similar homes with the same look.

Respect for the integrity of what has preceded the present is a rarity. Just as not to castigate my home state of New Jersey entirely, there is a city called Plainfield–the former Hollywood, home to silent movie stars of the distant past– has a historic district of about one square mile that prohibits home owners from tearing down the Victorian architectural treasures that make the city unique.

If you want my two cents (and you may since the penny is now pass'e), these architecturally restrictive codes should be uniform throughout the country. If people want to build their own dream homes, they need to buy open land in order to do so. Why buy a perfectly renovated antique with personality only to destroy it because the new owners like the location, not the house? There is something nonsensical or just plain barbaric about that. 

But then again, sometimes I think the country is going to the dogs, and perhaps it should. Some out there think that dogs are more humane than humans. As proof, I saw this written across a warehouse in letters that were each two feet tall:

BE MORE HUMAN

(and if in doubt)

BE MORE DOG

I rest my case. 

#blog, #personal essay, #architecture, #aesthetic values, #real estate, #Palm Springs

 

Resolving Resolutions

 

resolve - verb - to settle or find a solution to (Oxford Languages)

resolution - noun - a firm decision to do or not to do something (Oxford Languages)

Oddly enough, although I as a blogger have celebrated five, successive new years since conceiving this pastime, it seems as though I have not walked head-on wholeheartedly into the topic of New Year's resolutions until now.

To tell you the truth, New Year's Eve came and went sans my even contemplating any kind of resolution. And I would have gone on my merry way into 2026, completely free from the concept if it had not been for a friend of mine, a rather famous fine artist in her own right, who called me New Year's Day and asked, "Do you have any New Year's resolutions?" Obviously, I had to come up with something, so I went with the first thing that came into my head and replied, "Gratitude. Just to be more thankful than usual." She approved and then revealed that she intended to minimize expectations, which is always smart, but hard to do. I wish her much luck. 

After our conversation had concluded, and I abandoned my phone to its charger in the kitchen, I wondered how many out there have similar thoughts as to how they will behave in 2026. According to Google, the most common resolutions still being made include losing weight, eating healthier, exercising, being more fiscally responsible, taking up a new hobby other than board ("bored") games, card games, and pickle ball, or spending more time with loved ones.  

On the other hand, what if some persons, like me, were hoping to get away with ignoring the formerly indispensable tradition at this time of year. If that is the case, why the apathy? Is it because people are being more Zen and staying in the moment more, or is it because the goings on globally are so unpredictable that New Year's resolutions are impossible to make given the capricious climate? Or is it that contemporary humans are more self-aware and realize that whatever they promise themselves they'll do, they will most likely not do. Perhaps people find "firm" decisions to do or not to do to be on the flabby side? Perhaps the real resolution is to resolve to skip making them altogether? Perhaps that is a safe, honest alternative?

I don't know. I suppose an unspoken resolution, a simple one, kind of like the one I came up within a few seconds, may not be a bad idea. No one needs to announce intentions publicly, just zero in on one self improvement and stick with it. Keep it to yourself, but keep it close in mind. If you are out of original ideas, choose from the aforementioned, but please come up with unique hobbies.

Happy New Year and thanks to all of you who have been a fan of Word to Words or who have dropped in from outer cyber space out of curiosity. (So far, I'm keeping my 2026 resolution. I am thanking everybody!)

#NewYear, #resolutions, #blog, #blogger, #personal essay

Pacifying the Ghosts of Christmases Past

pacify - verb - to calm, quell (Oxford Dictionary)

If you grew up a Christian with a taste for British literature, film, or television, most likely you have heard of Charles Dickens's novella A Christmas Carol, a didactic, timeless Victorian masterpiece that has been made into many films and TV specials over the decades. Way before I ever realized it was in book form, I had watched Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol that premiered on network TV in 1962. It can still be found, but most likely, just on DVD. For me and my daughter who is 35, it is a Christmas Eve staple. Albeit a cartoon, it comes the closest to the original, going as far as using some of the actual dialogue from the novella. It does have music, though, so technically, it is a musical. But I digress. 

Just to refresh your memory in case you don't know or remember the plot, a miser of a wealthy, old man named Ebenezer Scrooge involuntarily entertains three spirits–the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future–on Christmas Eve. They take him into familiar territory to remind him of his transgressions so that through self-exploration, he can right the wrongs. Which he does in a big way. My favorite of the three apparitions is the Ghost of Christmas Past as it reminds Scrooge of love that was somehow lost in his life, contributing to his present misery and misanthropy. The most tragic moment comes when his affable employer Fezziwig's daughter Belle breaks off the engagement she has with Scrooge as she feels second to his adoration of money, a timeless concept except that it could go both ways today as women can be just as materialistic as men. Annually, the romantic me tears up when I witness rueful Scrooge realizing too late that he lost the one woman who actually loved him. 

Although I might have mentioned this in passing, I am a variation of Belle in that romantically, I have come across Scrooges who may or may not have been misers or even Christian, but who are haunted by Ghosts of Christmases past. The Belles of the past have come, but not gone as they are still present in their lives–even if their rights or wrongs occupy only their memories and not their physical realities. They can't let go of the women who took the place of their mothers. As the Belle in the present, I've had to walk away from these Scrooges to preserve my sanity and integrity. But in a sense, these men have stayed with my emotional memory as well, so perhaps I am haunted myself. 

Perhaps we are provided with memories so that we can take the hand of the Ghosts of Christmases Past and review what once was in order to learn not to make the same mistakes in the present. The ghost Grief, that is hard to pacify, involves a persistent memory, an inability to allow love to lapse. It forces us to hold onto the memory of the one who has drifted away. Yet as we are human, we are flawed. Often we don't learn from our mistakes and are doomed to repeat them. Usually love is involved. What is perceived as true love is an abstraction that we want to hold onto in the present. 

At the close of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is glad that the Spirits did what they had to do in one night so that he doesn't have to miss Christmas, a holiday that he formerly despised. In short, Scrooge learns to take the risk of loving again. By doing so, his reward is joy. He vows to make every day Christmas Day so that he can possess the natural high of ebullience. 

Maybe we hold onto the past because it somehow fulfills us? Something to think about.

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate and a memorable New Year for all who are human.

#blog, #personal essay, #Christmas, #Ghosts, #A Christmas Carol 

Defining "6-7" and "Situationships"

6-7 - (n.?) ineffable slang term coined by an undefined middle schooler meant to prank adults.

situationship - something like "friends with benefits" between two consenting teens or adults.

Quite recently, I gave in to The New York Times ubiquitous ads and purchased an online subscription as I have decided I do want to know what is going on in the world on a daily basis. And my like affair with Time magazine ran dry, mainly because it features way too many articles on AI and climate change. What can I say? I crave variety, and the Times provides it. 

A week or so ago (I think), "6-7" and "situationship," obscure terms indicative of the present day youth quake popped up in The New York Times. I have to admit that I am not impressed with 6-7, kids. The only thing it reminds me of is 1967, a very good year for music but little else, and my age: 67, something I would rather not contemplate. My great nieces used a light board that I gave one of them as a birthday gift to create a colorful, eon "6-7" and then sent me the photo of it, which I will use to advertise my age if the spirit moves me throughout 2026. Of course, they have no idea that 67 actually means more than "6-7." Why the originator of the term chose 6-7 as opposed to 1-2 or 2-3, or even 7-8 is unfathomable. Clearly, it is nonsensical, an attempt to confound, confuse, and therefore, manipulate adults. In short, 6-7 is a power play, an oddity that most likely won't be added to the Oxford Language Dictionary.  But given the absurdity of the age, it probably will be if it hasn't been already. So parents, what you need to do is ignore your kids when they answer any question you ask them with "6-7." Just put real words into their mouths. Example: "How was your day, Junior?" "6-7." "Oh, not so great, ah?" etc. You get the gist. Eventually someone will back down.

On the other hand, "situationship" isn't new. It appears to be just a synonym for "friends with benefits," which dates back a couple of decades and is probably on the well-worn side. Clearly, the person who coined the new term was looking for something slightly more sophisticated or perhaps more specific as "benefits" could refer to any number of pluses, such as health benefits, home insurance, a tax break, not just casual sex. A situationship that may or may not have a limited self life is something more than a platonic friendship because there is sex, but it is not quite a committed relationship. There is a communication gap about future plans that usually creates conflict as one party may see the coupling as more than what it is: a gray area like purgatory. It is no doubt for young people (or old geezers like myself) who are simply scared to death of anything resembling a marriage. I am on the fence about walking away from a situationship myself because the guy shares a house with his ex-wife albeit there is no physical intimacy between them. She and I can't co-exist sans complications. For him, it's pseudo-polygamy, the best of two worlds, like having the cake and eating it, too. Inequitable. I think Boomers need to borrow the term to refer to a short-term love affair that can't move forward due to a past entanglement that won't unentangle. I'll ask the Times to add it to the definition. Maybe the revised definition will go viral.

In closing, I have to thank the younger generations for their linguistic inventiveness. For the most part, their neologisms are on the creative side and harmless. May they continue to reinvent the language. As long as I have The New York Times for clarification, the innovations won't plague me. 

#blog, #social commentary, #6-7, #situationship, #personal essay 

Thank, Love, Hope: Action Verbs

 

verb - noun - a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence. (Oxford Language)

It has been six years since I retired from teaching secondary English, and it's been longer than that since I was able to get away with teaching English grammar directly in a classroom because, well, um, frankly, it is no longer permitted–at least not in New Jersey. If you are a sensible, educated individual, you would see the irony in this immediately. All languages employ grammar as it is foundational. Which brings me to the part of speech known as the verb. As stated in the definition above, a verb at its absolute best describes an action. It is on this attribute (three examples) that I will concentrate.

Thank is a verb; besides being verbs, love and hope can also be nouns, concepts that can roll off the tongue quite easily and frequently do sans staying power. Often they don't mean a heck of a lot unless they make the transition into verbs. Actions, after all, do speak louder than words. Take verb number 1: thank. Thanking can be done quite physically if you extend a hand to do so. Since the paranoia over skin-to-skin contact during the pandemic dissipated a few years ago, every once in a while, you most likely encounter a person not traumatized enough from the past to offer a solid handshake as a sincere gesture of thanks. Thanksgiving, a day set aside each November (we just experienced it), motivates you and me to give thanks mainly by eating. (As proof of this phenomenon, my sister spent hers devouring turkey, a candied yam casserole, dinner roles, and pumpkin pie all by herself in Cracker Barrel.) If the spirit moves you, you can also downshift into the past and write an actual thank-you note to be delivered by a mail carrier via the U.S. post office or the like. Not many of you do this sort of thing anymore, though. Still, thanking as an action comes fairly naturally.

On the other hand, love and hope can be a bit tricky. Most of you are thinking that these two are abstract as opposed to concrete concepts. Can you touch love or hope? Are they solid entities? No, but they can be put into action that is quantifiable. If you are a Christian, you know that this is the season of Advent; you wait for the birth of the Savior. If you are Jewish, you celebrate Hanukkah, which involves light. Love and hope are attached to both practices, but many of you choose to confine love and hope to words and actions within your own four walls. 

Which is admirable, but this holiday season, I think you can do better than that. I think you can put love and hope into action outside of the confines of your family. I know I've been on your case before re: volunteering, but if you are interested, that's how you can truly show love and hope, demonstrating them as action verbs. Love in action begets hope. When you reach out to those less fortunate (an act of love) and you can see the difference you've made, you walk away feeling hopeful, like things are going to get better since you've made a genuine effort on behalf of complete strangers. 

As an example, today I volunteered to adopt a disadvantaged family. I am guessing that I'll have to spend a little bit of my savings investing in their Christmas. Since everyone I know, including Christ, has a birthday in December, I probably spend the most money on gifts this month. No matter. I'm going all out to go all in. Every cent spent on providing these people whom I don't even know vaguely with basic needs and wants (an act of love) will translate into hope, the hope that someday the family at a more prosperous time in their lives will be able to pay the deed forward, reminiscent of "Schindler's List." Acts of love are contagious and lead into hope, hope of a better tomorrow. If you and I and everyone else who are fortunate did this sort of thing, the world would be a much better place. 

Mere words when put into action provoke positive change. Instead of complaining about the status quo, do something about it. Act on love and hope. Everything is possible. (Report back to me by New Year's if you take my advice.)

#love #hope #holidays #blog #personal essay