RMLincoln

Didn’t post this morning, went with DH for bloodwork for oncologist 6month checks. While there the eye hospital called with time and instructions for tomorrow surgery - 10:00 arrival, etc. So far we’re on track! @marshhawkRotterdam room cards were awful. So poorly printed the bar code couldn’t be scanned. It’s RFID so the refused to punch it so couldn’t use our lanyards. Carried it in my phone case credit card slots. Blessings all! Thanks for your support! m—

Absolutely request to speak with the Environmental Officer! I would request that they meet with you in the suite.

We also are allergic to feathers, especially DH. We asked our balcony cabin steward. He said only suites use feather pillows. The duvet in our room was polyester. Ask for what you need at your first introduction to your room steward. m—

Yes daily activity papers are left the evening before. WiFi connection instructions are in your cabin. For our recent cruise last month, many of the excursions were “sold out” before the cruise, but once onboard there were many that had new availability. Check onboard on the Navigator app. The city bus, known as The Bus, is an easy way to get to and from Pearl Harbor. Go very early and get the free tickets for the boat launch that takes you to the memorial. While waiting for your time slot you will have lots to see and read in the museum. The afternoon tickets may all be distributed by noon. You can rent a car for the day. We’ve done this successfully. I’ve used “Hawaiicarrental.com”. )Check with your rollcall or on the Hawaii ports board for current recommendations.) They will pick you up at the pier, take you to get the car; upon return of car they will shuttle you back to the pier. Aloha! m—

Smooth travels to FL Ann and Pat! Enjoy Rotterdam, a beautiful ship, lovely art. Thanks for bringing us along! Blessings you both Stay safe and stay well! Maureen

We were on Rotterdam Feb 25 - March 8. Origins was first night and I believe it was repeated one afternoon. Enjoy your cruise. m—

NOTE: this didn’t seem to post last night. Oh well… Thank you for posting tonight Karen! We’re all happy to here this upward trending news, even if cautious. Happy for you that you got to spend a night at home and a day with your husband. One day at a time is everything! Good that you will do your pool work tomorrow! Hoping for no calls tonight. 🙏 for Amazing! Loved the Snoopy cartoon too, saved it! Folks here are so uplifting! Maureen

Smooth travels Ann and Pat @Vict0riann! I might miss your sailaway, hopefully busy with DH’s eye surgery this week! Bon Voyage ! Anxiously awaiting word from Karen @luvteaching 🙏

Happy Anniversary and many thanks to all the contributors to the Daily. @luvteaching Glad your DH is being cared for where he needs to be. And that you got home to rest. Please take care of yourself through this. It is a privilege to walk with our spouses. I’m sure he is very grateful for you! We will be with you. 🙏 It was nice to hear how helpful your EMTs and Fire Chief are! Thanks for sharing that. (Years ago I spent 1 night in ICU with DH, then an EMT friend gave me a key to their house nearby. Better than my 90 min drive.). Please be extra cautious and keep focused on your driving to Bellingham. @grapau27 Graham, Thanks for Fr David’s sermon. (We’re laying low these day, staying home, trying not to jeopardize the surgery plan.) Thanks Vanessa @JazzyVfor including us on the care list. Tomorrow we should get information on surgery time and last instructions. I wish they would do that earlier! I hate having to wait till the last day. (…still working on letting go of things out of my control…) @mamaofami Carol I hope you can get to the clinic tomorrow to have your eye checked. Sending out blessings to you and them. Blessings to all in need of healing, comfort or hope. Cheers to all celebrating and cruising. Time for me to go help DH with eye drops! Maureen

These pictures if Sandnessjøen are from the Hurtigruten book I bought on the voyage. Some photos show one of their ferry/cruise ships. We were on Midnatsol, Midnight Sun. Im sure these photos and the short description are better than anything I have. The description mentions the Seven Sisters, which are mountain peaks and valleys; they were mostly obscured by clouds when we were there.

Just realized I think we’ve been to Sandnessjioen. On the Hurtigruten round-trip Bergen to Kirkenes. The cruise is a combination ferry/cruise/freight delivery. It was a great experience, I loved it! The ship usually stops several times a day to deliver cargo and passengers. We were on for the full 11 days. It stops at different ports north and sound bound. The scenery is stunning but we went in late Oct/early Nov and had some super early sunsets (2:30 pm up north) and a lot of rain so we didn’t get to see some things. But we saw Auroras! We could set a switch on our cabin phone that allowed announcements during the night if visible Aurora lights were out. I’ll look for port photos but not sure which backup drive they might be on. M—

I’m following the fleet report for friends on Noordam in NZ now but having trouble figuring out which day it is 🤣. Coffee might help. I watched the weather tv last night as the tornadoes tore across Mississippi and beyond. It’s heartbreaking. Sending out blessings to all involved: those burdened with personal losses, many now homeless too; the widespread trauma; those caring for the injured; all those in charge of making decisions, and for the safety of the searchers; also for all involved in the chocolate factory explosion in Reading PA. We drive through there on our way to the granddaughters. And Ukraine. And not forgetting the earthquake victims. Cheers to all celebrating 🍾. Have a fun dinner out Gerry @ger_77. And wine! I hope DH wears his medal! Smooth sailing for all the cruisers. Safe travels home to those returning. Thank you @JazzyV for adding us to the care list. We didn’t receive the pre-op meds so put in a question on the portal. Was now told she doesn’t prescribe them for this surgery. So why did she say she would? I’m working on letting go of things I can’t control! Hoping it will all unfold (not unravel!). Tuesday! Enjoying a bit a rain here, good for the reservoir we kayak in! Hopefully soon! Blessings to all the Dailyites. Congratulations on 3 years! Maureen

I’m not good at backing up. Really not good! … To get my Emergency Vehicle Operator Certification I had to parallel park a fire truck, like next to a hydrant. The examiner checked how I did and told me that I was about 5 feet away. I said, “Good! I didn’t hit it! I think the hose will reach!” He passed me with a “Needs Practice” note. Where we operated in the rural area, there was no parallel parking ever needed, mostly we were on dirt roads. 🚒 My new car has a backup camera, my best friend! I love it! DH is thrilled too! I’m sure our insurance company is happy too. I wish I’d had a back up camera when we traveled with our 5th wheel trailer and pickup RV combination. DH tried hard to teach me to back it up but he wisely decided it was either: get me to learn to back it up, or stay married. I drove it many thousands of miles, anywhere, any conditions, but forward only! Maureen

@ger_77 Excellent that your DH was honored for all he has given. Congratulations to you both 🎉 🎆🍾 @bennybear Again, so very glad you had a positive outcome. And good to hear you had excellent medical assessment close by and utilized it. My comments were more to spread the word that help is nearer than many might be aware. m—

“ Last year I found myself in a situation where DH had to go to the hospital in the night when we were at our rural lake campground. It was a several hour round trip in the dark on unfamiliar roads, driving his huge 3/4 ton diesel 4x4 truck. But I was familiar enough that I could do it without too much trepidation. And we had a great outcome. “ I read these words from @bennybear with a heavy “Oh my!” So glad there was a positive outcome! BUT…. My rural 911 response area was a National Recreation Area; it included several campgrounds, a State Lake Park, a National Preserve and a National Monument park plus 40 miles of National Forest. Please call 911. Please get the trained medics to help your loved one and you. Campground hosts had radios where there was no cell phone signal. We can support the patient during the transport - our transport times were long, usually about 90 minutes to hospital and patients didn’t always stay stable. We could call for additional resources, even a helicopter if warranted. A family member can’t drive and attend to a potentially degrading patient status. There is always a team of responders that can be dispatched by radio pagers, day and night, even where no cell phones work. Responders are imbedded (we live) in the rural communities and can arrive quite quickly. With an ambulance, assessment equipment, ECG, oxygen, meds, more people than you could imagine who jumped out of bed to help, and a ton of other support. Plus responders have communication with physicians. Responders have state licensure and constant training, meet the same requirements as paid responders. And as volunteers, we charged zero fees- Your tax dollars at work! (Ambulances and helicopters we intercepted with en route had their own fees.). A family member might come with, or drive behind. We’ve helped with dogs left at campsites, grandkids who needed attending, and left-behind camping gear! I’m sure Canada and England (999) do likewise. PLEASE make the call! Do not attempnti drive a loved one in jeopardy. And do not try to drive yourself! OFF the soapbox! Everybody stay safe and well! 🚑 Maureen.

@grapau27, thanks for the lovely remembrance. And @highscar, thank you for sharing this day with me. Wrapping up one’s life on a cruise ship seems not an unhappy way to leave this world, but messy for family! Happened to a good friend of mine! Your mom’s life was shorter than my mom’s, she died in 2001. My first cruise was with her when I turned 16 on the Home Lines’ Oceanic. I didn’t cruise next until 2003, after DH and I retired. Travel was one of mom’s strengths! I’m blessed she passed that part on! m—

Wow Brenda. Just Wow! Thank you!

Greetings from gloomy but warmish (only this morning) Maryland. The Cherry Blossoms are near peak in Washington DC, not that we will make the trek to see them. We are laying low, just waiting for Tuesday’s glaucoma stent and cataract lens surgery for DH. So glad Carol @mamaofami was able to finally get her surgery behind her- but what a long day with a 6hr delay. You’d think they’d have generators! I am so sorry Carol that you had to deal with that, but good on you for managing to get through it. May your healing go well. Yesterday would have been my mom’s 112th birthday. I was very glad to talk with my sister. Our relationship with mom was stormy but she taught us many useful strengths too. She’ll be with me forever and beyond. It was a good day of reflection. Haven’t been to Tanzania. Very interesting and exciting that the World Cruise passed through 0,0! 🌍 Roy, the very favorite dessert on our family cruise was the Ricotta Raspberry Torte. Everyone loved it! Thanks for your alternative menus and pictures. Blessings to all in need of healing, comfort or hope. Cheers to all celebrating. Life is good. 🌈 Smooth sailing to all the cruisers, enjoy it all! Maureen

@seagarsmoker Hoping you had a lovely day to celebrate your birthday. And a memorable PG dinner in your suite. Perfect! We were in Punta Arenas but all I remember is the huge cross monument we watched for on the way out down the channel in the twilight. Blessings to all in need of healing (🙏 to @mamaofami) comfort or hope. Cheers to all celebrating, and Bon Voyage to friends on Noordam sailing away out of Auckland tonight,; smooth sailing to all our cruisers. Tired. Calls today were with dental office about payments we received directly from insurance… nothing adds up… no bill, invoices don’t match Explanation of Benefits… offices wants us to endorse over to them. I’m confused! And tired. Will revisit next week after eye surgery🤞.

@kazuYay Jacqui! 🚘 A bit sideways with delays and floods of memories but leaps forward! So happy for you. Today we went around again with an online checkin, this time for the post surgery followup appt the next day. Ugh. They still have my allergy to meds on DHs record. We try every time requesting they change that. My lesson: I cannot control these things, I must let go. Jacqui I hope you ease into your restored freedoms. Take care!

Something got delayed in posting…. Oh well. Debbie @dfish so glad you are through that and recovering with Moose Tracks! Rest, rest rest. Ann @Vict0riann glad you are passed the decision and moving forward. Time to breathe. Paul @kochleffel sounds like too much drama. It’s nice they want to celebrate you and your retirement. Indicates appreciation deeper than the bluster. Thanks for the beautiful pictures of Alicante. Maureen

@Vict0riann Be confident your decisions today will be the right ones. We support you which ever way this goes. We’ve all been through turning points, including you and Pat. Remember to breathe! Wishing you inner calm in the outward turbulence. m—

@Vict0riann Be confident your decisions today will be the right ones. We support you which ever way this goes. We’ve all been through turning points, including you and Pat. Remember to breathe! Wishing you inner calm in the outward turbulence. m—

Annie, @marshhawk I get what you mean that the docs say time is important, do this or that soon, but the scheduling systems don’t support that approach. Hopefully this is all a step sideways! Blessings that the PET scan clarifies this spot and you can experience a calming as the path forward unfolds. Maybe the important part of this visit is the new inhaler! New paths. I too am wired to share, I get it! Holding you in my heart! 💖. I know you’ll update us when the timing is right. Maureen

Tried to post late last night but couldn’t get in. Nor earlier this morning. Like life, sometimes we need extra patience for things out of our control. That has been my most pressing lesson to absorb recently. @dfish, @mamaofamiPraying for AMAZING ! @marshhawk, @Vict0riann, @kazu and others including ourselves dealing with the ups and downs of medical issues: there’s a lot of going sideways to make some forward progress. @kochleffel A house can be so filled with the lingering presence of a recently lost loved one while it feels so utterly empty. 💔 Yesterday we made frustratingly slow progress. We got email with a link to confirm DH’s eye surgery next week. The link didn’t work. Called John’s Hopkins tech line. They couldn’t help. Tried other browsers. Finally got checked in by smart phone but couldn’t print the QR code. Tried screenshot but got message, No screenshot allowed for security! Took photo of QR with other phone. 😳. No call back on payment for special implant lens. No pre-op prescription yet. DH miserable with the skin reaction to his eye meds but managing. This has been a long process nearing 10 months. Hoping we can get this stent implant to reduced the number of glaucoma meds needed. And the cataract lens implant done. Then get the other eye scheduled…. Blessings to all in need of healing, comfort, patience, courage, or hope. 🙏 Cheers to all celebrating milestones and joys. Life is good! You help us remember this in tougher days! 🥂 Smooth sailing to all the cruisers! Enjoy it all! And a special shoutout to my CC Vancouver friends (not sure they’ve posted so I will use discretion) flying out late tonight to Auckland to board Noordam as soon as they get there which will be Saturday morning! Noordam will be on a 35 day T-P repositioning back to Vancouver. So many ports we’ve loved! Living vicariously through our own trying times is a lift! I love the quote today. I remember my fire chief telling me when I was so nervous about passing my EMT exam, If you fail, they don’t shoot you, you just take it again! It was a very difficult state certification exam, only given 3 times a year and we had to travel 200+ miles, stay 2 nights. The morning was the written part: 120 questions in 2.5 hrs; at “halftime” I was only up to question 40 and had skipped 10! Time for a new approach! The afternoon was practicals- one trauma, one medical with Autofails at every step. During the day there was absolutely no talking to anyone, had to be escorted individually to restroom, (we didn’t have smart cell phones in those days!). Of my classmates who tested that day 6 of 8 passed, better than the usual 50% rate. No one was shot, the 2 passed the next time they attempted. I was a volunteer EMT 17 years in rural New Mexico. It was a constant learning of life and a great blessing for me. 70% of EMTs in the US are volunteers, similarly for firefighters which we were also. I’m glad we did it but I don’t miss it. I’m content in this chapter of life! And without that experience we might not have had the motivation or insight ti make the shift from our beloved mountain home to Maryland and all it has to offer us here. Life is good! Maureen