My mother and I stayed our first 2 days in Rome, Italy then boarded a cruise ship. Now I could write about all of the 7 day cruise, but that would take me days, if not months. I experienced so many new sights, met so many interesting people, and well let's not talk about how much food I indulged in. So let me fast forward to the second to the last night on the ship. The staff moved the disco up to the deck by one of the swimming pools. When I had learned about the relocation of the club earlier that day I didn't really think anything of it. I just thought it would be a DJ blasting cheesy music, and drunk people making idiots out of themselves. Little did I know I had set my expectations WAY too low.
On a 7 day cruise there are typically two formal dress up nights in which this evening took place on. I really was not trying to impress anyone on the ship looks wise. Usually I would hop out of the shower, put my hair up in a fancy clip, and maybe put on some extra make up. For some reason I decided to go all out for the occasion. I actually did my hair and left it down, put on a full face of make up, and put on a very sexy dress polished off with some black spiked heels. I guess as women we sometimes have to make sure we still have it in the looks department. LOL My mother was in such total shock that I had spent so much time fixing myself up she made me do a photo shoot out on our balcony. I guess this is where it all started. Being out on the balcony during the sunset on The Mediterranean Ocean during the summer is breathe taking. While standing out there outside of our room there was a warm breeze blowing through my hair, and through my soul.
After dinner I was still on this high, and had also acquired a nice red wine buzz. My mom had gone back to the cabin and gave me her blessing to check out the upper deck festivities. I made my way up to the top deck. As soon as I stepped off the elevator I was hit by a euphoric burst of phenomenal energy. I followed the sound of music, and walked into a setting that almost didn't seem like something of this world.
The music sounded amazing, the sky was totally clear, the pool was lit up and looked like something you would see at Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas. So many people were dancing. People of all sizes, ages, and cultures. I ran into a lady and her daughter that I talked to a few times on shore excursions. As soon as they saw me they said "We were hoping we would run into you because your so much fun."
We began to dance under the stars. I was so over come by the fact that there were so many different races enjoying this night together in harmony. I soon realized that I needed to ease off of my reservations and grudges I have towards the world population in general, and most importantly myself. All of these individuals were being so kind to us, and even though I did not share the same language with them I still felt like I was communicating somehow with everyone. For the first time in many years I felt so free. It realized everything was going to be okay. Yes at 35 I have made many mistakes in my life, and wasted a lot of time trapped in corporate jobs that nearly killed my spirit. I have felt so lost since last January after losing my job because I can not decide what to do with my life. I was also reassured this night that the path I am meant to take will be revealed to me, and to not worry anymore.
After hours of dancing the night began to wind down. As I walked back to the cabin I stopped and stood by the railing on the upper deck where the party had been. I looked out into the dark night and endless water and thought of him. The man that stole my heart last December. The man that is out there on another type of ship fighting for my country. We were able to communicate that week via email, and I learned he would be home soon. I longed for him to be there with me so he could have experienced this night with me as well. But I soon realized that he was there with me because somehow I knew at that moment he was looking out at the ocean like I was thousands of miles away thinking about me as well.
