Random Life Stories ~ Cruises

Random Life Stories ~ September 24, 2013

Maxine's Story

Cruises

It didn't seem likely I would ever have the experience of a “cruise”. They have become a popular and common vacations for many of my friends—but living with Hank, it was not to be considered. His fear of seasickness quickly ended any conversation we may have had about “cruising”.

That is until after his death in 1993. And thanks to a thoughtful and generous daughter-in-law, Jackie. (David has no intention of doing any cruises either.) So it was Jackie, Judy, Ross & Grandma...and when Jackie goes it is 1st class! Wonderful! Really wonderful!

It is now 2013 & my traveling days are over. Yet I have memories and so many great places we visited—Following the robot teams in Ross & Judy's high school years—checking out the grand lodges of the National Parks in the West—Yosemite—Grand Canyon—Zion (in Utah)--Yellowstone Park (2 lodges there, one at “Old Faithful”—the other “Grand Hotel”, where a big deer slept under my window. There was Death Valley on the list, and I remember Scotty's Castle but cannot recall...did they have a lodge, or did we stay in a motel there? {NOTE from Dave: We stayed in a motel at Furnace Creek, as I remember.}

I do remember the good food! And Las Vegas (for the second time)...The great shows and the room I shared with Judy at the “New Yorker”. That room had a huge picture hanging over our bed. It was a black and white and just men....ugly and scary. We decided we could not sleep under that awful picture, but there was no way to take it down. So we had to cover it—with nothing to cover it with! We were desperate—we did it! And slept fine! We enjoyed Penn & Teller—Blue Man group (when we were in the front row & got buried in paper at the end—WOW!) Also one of the “Cirque du Soleil” performances. We went to Las Vegas twice and saw other shows and had great experiences. Like my birthday we celebrated! Jackie bought perfectly placed tickets for “Mama Mia” then got sick & David got (had) to go---It surely wasn't his “thing” but he was a good sport about it---the Show was fantastic and so was the big buffet dinner afterward in the classiest place we could find. A perfect birthday for me, not so much for Jackie!

Lots of memories from LV! The 1425 Robot Team from Wilsonville won “The FIRST Las Vegas Regional”. The odds of that happening in those 3 short years were pretty slim (or was it four, David?) {NOTE from Dave: It was 4 years.} Those kids are not only smart, but also determined! It was the highlight of that time even though David introduced me to Steve Wozniak as we found the three of us in the same elevator! I've only recently learned who he is and what he means to our technical world. Brilliant man. Neither would I recognize his former friend & partner Steve Jobs! But David did---David is also responsible for my meeting and enjoying the show of a popular young comedian named Jay Leno at the party afterward.......

........WOW—Had no idea who he was but was soon to find out when he became the “host” of the Johnny Carson's TONIGHT SHOW. It seems that David & Jay Leno had a mutual interest in “old English” motorcycles. Jay came to the Hansen home to see David's collection! (David needs to write that story, as I don't have enough details.)

David you did disappoint me a couple of times. A personalized picture from Tommy Lee Jones just isn't as cool as an introduction. And I felt really bad when I couldn't share Nicolas Cage's email address with my friends!

David, look at what I've done! I explained to you what it means to “stay on the river”. I've taken a tributary and lost the story line. Now you said that is the right way. So from here on, I will just go off in whatever direction pleases me. But don't tell that teacher at PCC who teaches “write your life story”. I like her style and it has kept me going as I amuse myself with the fun family stories and experiences. More to come & I haven't even begun to write “Adventures with the Welches, or Dean & Doris, or the Joneses.

I just wanted to share my first & only cruise experiences. (Back to the “river”.)

I've learned that when I ask any friend about their Alaskan cruise, I hear the exact same details. It was wonderful! The food—oh the food—wonderful. Scenery—wonderful. Whales. Yes! Bears—same sightings. Glorious bay—really wonderful—etc, etc, etc. Clearly we've all taken the exact same trip. Well I can say “yeah!” to all of this wonderfulness.

But one I'd like to tell one (or two.)

We were sitting on our large beautiful deck. Remember I've already told you Jackie took us 1st class! It was a perfect day on Glacier Bay. You can't describe fully how beautiful it was. The (Holland Lines) ships were having an experience they had not had before. A big falcon sat himself on the very highest part of the ship that would hold him. So handsome. The ships camera found him and aimed directly at him so we could all share in this beauty! After a bit I became a little bored and watched elsewhere. Time passed. Suddenly the watchful falcon took a straight dive down to the water, selected a white duck, carried it to a flat place where he tore into that duck with a vengeance! Screamers oh the horror of it. Off with the camera! There came the feathers! Floating down like big snowflakes—over the whole ship, including our deck. Apologies by an embarrassed ship's crew who had never witnessed such a scene before! We may have been the only ones laughing!

Lunch time! Still in Glacier Bay, on our great deck. We were privileged! We ordered room service. Got Caesar salad, covered with croutons among other things, more than we could eat. Now here came the sea gulls. They loved our croutons and were very bold about coming right up to the plexiglass (safe little barrier across the front of the roomy deck.) And if our goodies couldn't reach them, they flew in and out. Fun—fun—fun! A no-no as far as the “Holland” (ship) was concerned. We soon found out why.

One hesitant gull sat on the edge of our little wall, until after a minute or two another rude one knocked him off, onto our deck. Now he could see through the plexiglass but not how to fly over it. He went crazy and so did Ross and Judy. Such a fuss—gull running all directions. Ross and Judy screaming and Jackie trying to get control of the bird.

We had a real problem about to happen. I don't know where that bird had stored about a dozen large croutons, but he gave them back! One by one, regurgitating and he ran WHILE pooping (whatever) all over the deck. Oh my heavens!

Now Ross and Judy ramped up the screaming and added the gagging. Jackie is getting no closer to the bird and is in danger of slipping on our now slippery deck. I am still seated and realize if he comes near me, I have to grab—and grab tightly...and he does and I do. Then stood up and threw him out! Well Jackie found mops, bucket and cleaner, and the rest of us watched her clean up. We surely didn't alert the stewards (or anyone else.) Jackie paid the price for breaking the rule. Feeding the birds was no longer any fun!

This is by no means a full report of that cruise. Not only did we have the great dining areas, we were next door to the “privileged” 1st class goodies and game room. Just when I was looking for an appetite there would be Jackie handing me a plate of hors d'oeuvre or the largest peaches or strawberries I've ever seen! I took a helicopter ride up up into those verdant mountains and valleys and walked about on a glacier. Awesome! We saw but one bear, big and black and standing on a large rock on the banks of a river we were exploring. He didn't try to get away but looked right back at us. The whale tour provided all the whales you would want to see, and the tour to the cemetery gave us a lot to be amused about. Crazy stories about crazy people in the zany history of Juneau!

I've only begun with the Alaska adventures. More fun with the others in my family to come. And David who has pushed me into this. And offered to be my editor. I've got to go find a dictionary. {NOTE from Dave: No you don't, Gma....the computer has a built in dictionary!}

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