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More life on board the Queen Mary

Another beautiful sunny day. Up on the 12th deck (top), we are sitting and watching the young families in the pool. There is quite a stiff breeze on the outside promenade but the wind isn’t all that cold so it is pleasant. We could go down to the 7th deck and sit on the deck chairs (choices, choices!) but this is very pleasant.

Last night when we were at the fancy dining room, our waiters asked us why we weren’t there the night before. When we said we didn’t have “gala” attire (dinner jackets for men and all) they insisted that as long as Richard wore his dark jacket and a tie he would be fine. So we will eat at the fancy dining room tonight after all (Cinderella WILL go the ball, hahahaha.) Our table companions are happy about that, I think they enjoy our company. The other family, the young British family with a small boy and girl, are pleased as well. I did see them all decked out on Monday night, he in his dinner jacket and black bow tie and she in a smart black cocktail dress. What a lovely family they are. He told us he had been working in San Diego for the past two and a a half years and now they were headed back to England. I have met so many interesting people, albeit briefly. There was the couple, she from Russia originally and he from the Ukraine, who told me about their lives over there and how thankful they were to be U.S. citizens. It had cost them thousands of dollars but they said it had been worth it compared to their lives in the former USSR. Puts things a bit into perspective. The Western world isn’t perfect and we need to keep working to make it more just, more equitable for all people, but compared to so much of the world, we have a freedom that other people only dream about. I still look around at all the people on board and wonder, why me? Why did I luck out like this? Of course it wasn’t all luck, it was my grandparents’, my parents’ hard work, and mine too. And Richard’s of course. 

Still though we were born with advantages, Richard and I. Opportunities, the color of our skin unfortunately, were all there for us to take advantage of.

And such are my musings on this Wednesday morning at sea. Being thankful for what I have but humble too. As the former Royal correspondent for ITV said yesterday in his lecture, why me? But being glad and thankful to be me. And especially on this day, remembering my amnesia spell last month that landed me in the hospital, being VERY glad to be here!!




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