Humble Thoughts

It has been a long day. Working aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise, the continuous cycle of awakening to the shared confines of living quarters and workplace takes some adjusting. At best, it is unique. 

Days no longer exist. Instead, a numerical order of one, two, three, and so forth is substituted – a schedule more digestible to the unspeakable myriad of guests who arrive and depart every seven days in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

A common encounter goes something as follows, ‘Excuse me, could you tell me what day it is?’ a quizzical guest will inquire. ‘Um, you know’ I respond, ‘I know it is day three, which means it is…Monday? No, wait, Sunday. Ahh, I don’t know anymore!’

I digress. My cabin offers the amenities of a coffin tight washroom, a mini bottle liquor fridge, and a top bunk, single size mattress – curtain included (bow-chicka-wow-wow). The ‘incubator’ as I have formally dubbed it is adorn with a fuzzy, deep blue blanket (pictured above). Evoking the specific shade of a supermarket’s sea food aisle, or, more fittingly, a box of Captain High Liner’s Fish Sticks, I have made it home.

Would you know, my choices of music and reading material have found common ground, too. Kraken : The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid deatils cephalopods from once proclaimed sea monsters to integral specimens for breakthroughs in neurological disorders. Did you know, we as humans, share similar eyes and axon nerve fibres? Love science. Moreover, my musical tastes have seen me obsessively return to the Beach Boys ‘California Saga,’ a three-part song suite from their 1975 Holland album (very underrated). With the mantra of ‘water’ beautifully harmonized at the conclusion of part three, I cannot help but think that perhaps I, myself, am becoming more comfortable with ship life and its surrounding ‘cool, clear, water.’

Until next time, friends.