Easter Sunday at Sea

April 8, 2012

Holidays remind you that you are away from home. There is no question that I have enjoyed my experience during this contract and definitely plan to return for a second stint. The day to day activities of life at home are definitely missed as are the people you love who you are away from. However, the non-stop activity gives you little time to think about what you are missing until you slow down. Holidays, even at sea, seem to have a slightly slower rhythm.

It is still a workday, of course, and the daily pattern is defined by what day of the cruise it is not by a date on a calendar. But psychologically, something seems to be different. As previously stated in a blog Easter Sunday had me conducting a signoff meeting for the crew that would be leaving us two days hence. However, on the other side of the doors in the conference center our Youth Staff was putting on an Easter Egg hunt for a couple of hundred pint-sized guests. The Easter Bunny made his appearance after having passed through my conference room as I was setting up. Officers who had arrived to toast off the departing crew slid into the back door following the Bunny to nick a couple of chocolates for their own holiday consumption. Some of us had already received our chocolate treats, though, as our HR team had gone to dinner at Tuscan Grill and when we arrived, Tim had arranged for a large chocolate Easter egg to be at each of our places, accompanied by an additional chocolate bunny. After leaving the restaurant that night I ran into my friend Giorgia who was feeling a little down about being away from her family. I happily presented her with the chocolate bunny so that she could share in the celebration even while far away from her loved ones.

Easter greetings were commonly shared that day especially at the delicious crew brunch that F&B hosted. With egg and waffle stations, many dessert choices, and both carved lamb and ham, it was clearly a holiday brunch. Tim and I went straight from brunch to the bocce game against the guests. It seemed very appropriate to be out on the lawn under the blue skies on an Easter Sunday. As an added treat our Cruise Director, Paul, had arranged to do a small concert in the Grand Foyer of a few of his favorite tunes. He sang, “You Raise Me Up,” as well as three numbers from Phantom, the last as a duet with our vocal captain, Maria. I stood in the back of the crowd enjoying the music and embracing this beautiful Easter gift.

But several times during the day I found my mind in Colorado remembering the standard flow of Easter. There was no Easter vigil, no lighting of the Easter candle, no Exsultet, no Easter baskets for the kids, no traditional breakfast or watching the Disney Easter Parade. In the afternoon I imagined Rosie going over to share Easter dinner at the Hemings. The simple, comfortable routine of the holidays did not exist.

I am so blessed to be able to live this life of working on a ship. But all choices in life result in necessary tradeoffs. Some days we are simply more aware of them.

And the adventure continues . . .