Day 262 or Lessons I Learned on a Mexican Cruise, Pt.1

Well, I wanted to hook up with the lovely Unknown Mami for her FABULOUS meme, Sundays in My City -- the Cozumel edition. Unfortunately, however, I am still fighting tech issues so instead I will share some of my stories.

First lesson is... some people do not want to be happy. Even on a cruise. Even in the middle of the bluest water meeting the bluest sky. Some people must choose to be unhappy.

Now why would I say that?

Because, one of the first things you can do when you get on the boat is head to the buffet (the first of MANY, but more on that later). The boat has not left the dock. The sun is shining. Drinks are already being poured and consumed (and consumed, and consumed). And there is a woman yelling at a server because she doesn't like where they put the silverware. Seriously. She is about to sail off into a blue horizon with all the food she could want (most of it good) and she is picking a fight over flatware.

For me, it was eye-opening. I could not have been more excited in that moment. I wouldn't have complained if I had to carry the same fork around the rest of the trip (all right, I probably would complained under those circumstances, but you know I love hyperbole) and she was mad because they had the silverware in the central kiosk rather than at the beginning of each line. Really? REALLY??? I really don't think that woman wants to be happy.

Hey. Maybe, I'm wrong. Is there a wealth of flatware faux pas out there worthy of starting a cruise out angry? Did I miss a class in etiquette that demands immediate and harsh reaction to such a culinary disaster? If so, please enlighten me. Otherwise, I stick with my original hypothesis. This woman does not want to be happy.

Second lesson. I am addicted to my iPhone. I am so used to being attached at all times that I actually experienced a little anxiety when I saw my little ATT in the upper left corner go to No Service. I could not call my family and they could not call me. I could not check for comments on my blog or write comments on yours. No facebook at my fingertips and no constant twitter updates. I think that an Intervention was in order. (I even take it in the bathroom -- yeah, I know. But I'm a mom and you know sometimes, that's the only time. Okay. Okay. Enough said.) Well, I got my intervention. Spending days out in the middle of the Dead Zone made me realize that I have a strong relationship with my technology. I can't even say that I went total cold turkey. I did visit the Internet station. But at $.55/minute, I only used it to send emails to the family, no surfing. No blogging. A little peek at the bank balance so I had no unpleasant surprises and back to life at a slower pace.

Good lesson, right? Yeah. But just like any other addict, I have relapsed. My iPhone has been in my back pocket since re-entry. Alas. Is there still hope for me yet? I'd like to think so but will all the blogs I love, well let's just not go there and instead think happy thoughts.

It was very hard for me to slow down. The pace of life has gotten so fast and so a part of me that being without my iPhone was not the only change. Clocks are rare on the boat. As a mom, I am so used to being on a schedule. It was wild being on "no time" time. (I have more to say on that from my sadly limited time in Mexico, but as I am now back on Mommy No Time, that will have to wait...) It's a good lesson, however, to step back a little from the clock. You'll note that I said "a little" but I am trying.

So, there is Lessons Part One. More on drinks, bathing suits, and the Mexican Johnny Depp to come. I peeked your interest there, didn't I? Stay tuned, folks.
:-)