In 2019 I wrote a piece right after stepping off of a cruise. It was basically about “how you look at life”, or something like that. And seeing that over the holidays I jumped on a ship after I closed my last show in South Florida, just to enjoy the fabulous party that is New Year’s Eve at sea, it seems relevant to me. And, it also seems like something we all could stand to listen to more than once. So here, with an occasional update and edit, is “Attitude”. Enjoy.

I’m on a cruise. that’s no unusual. I’ve done lots of cruises. Hell, I worked for cruises for 4 years. So obviously, I like them. Some people do. Some don’t. I have friends I cruised with years ago who still more or less get on a ship, get off a ship and simply move to another ship. And hey, you know what? If you find something you love and have the wherewithal to do it often, or constantly, more power to you, man.

I have found that for me, an occasional cruise goes a long way. I might even be ready to close that particular door. But one of the things that I have always enjoyed about cruising is the diversity. Especially as regards the crew, but passengers as well. People of all ages, shapes and sizes. White, black , brown, yellow, gay, straight, American, Brits, Russians, Chinese, old, young. You get the idea.

One of the things that I don’t really love? There are lines. Lots of lines.

Lines to get on. Lines to eat. Lines for drinks. Lines for lines to get into lines.

Not my fav. But honestly, folks…

….you basically paid to be taken care of for a week, or however long you’re on. You go to exotic places. You eat for free. You drink for free, if you buy the drink package, which I would recommend. There are activities. Somebody makes your bed and cleans your room. But you know what?

People are unhappy.

People are impatient. The food, all 8 or 10 buffet lines worth, plus the specialty spots, are not  what they want. Things take too long ( see “lines”). There aren’t enough deck chairs, there are too many children. There are too many drunk adults, they don’t like the music the D.J. plays, “Why don’t you show the football games?” “You need more waiters”, “What do you mean we’re not going to the port because of the weather?”…blah, blah, blah….

Are cruises perfect? No. Are they for everyone? Not really. But come on now…

…there are SO many people in the world who, if offered a chance to live like this for a week, would happily punch you in the face for whining and take your place. There are so many people who aren’t in a position to travel, to be taken care of and pampered for a week.

I think we forget. I think I forget from time to time.

There are so many people, all over the world, who live happily with so much less. And I also think that people tend to carry their happiness, and their unhappiness, with them.

I was just telling my friends in Facebook about the fact that in the last week I have;

• blistered the hell out of my lower lip (always. The sun and my huge lower lip have a thing going that sun screen & lip balm can’t break up)
• developed a sore spot on the ball of my foot that is screwing up my running obsession. ( this ended up having to be cut out, twice. At least the 2nd time I knew how much the shot to inject the painkiller would hurt. The 1st time I screamed like a child. But I digress….)
• ran my face  into a door and left a contusion.
• pulled my back muscles.

My friends, in that loving way they have, have accused me of being clumsy, drunk and old.

They are correct on all counts. But one thing that I am, in addition to all of the above?

Grateful.

I can afford to go on little adventures like this. I can still run, albeit slightly slower than 10 years ago. I have access to medical care to fix whatever it is that ails me.

And in trying to learn from my experiences, moving forward I’m going to try to be better at enjoying;

The work that I do.

the day to day challenges that pop up.

dealing with people.

In general, the gifts that I am given, by God, my fellow man, the cosmos, whatever you want to call it.

I guess the parable today is that happiness, and unhappiness, transcend situations, finances, other peoples expectations, geographic locations, etc. Happiness, or unhappiness, is usually something you bring to the party with you. Either way. At least that’s the way I see it.

Talk later,

Bob