The Howling

On this cruise, I learned that I'm not a cruise person.  Don't get me wrong, how can you not enjoy it, but I'd rather be lying on a beach, instead of getting on and off a ship to get to a beach.

I few memories that will either haunt me forever, or crack me up forever..................

My aunt and I got on line to return to the ship.  The Celebrity cruise docked right across from us was also leaving and the two ships were having a "honk-off"... HOOONK, went our ship, "HHHOOONNNKKK" went the opposite ship.  Lots of fun, like a cheer-leader face-off.  I heard a bunch of teenagers screaming and yelling and gathering around laughing and hugging each other and their family as they lined up for the boat.  Just then I realized it wasn't a teenager laughing, it was a lady (maybe ten - fifteen years older than me) screaming.  Crying hysterical, howling like someone stabbed her with a knife.  "Nooooo, nooooooo"  sob, sob, sob...."Nooooooo".  The chill of her scream will haunt me forever.  It came right out of that Twilight Zone episode where they won't give refuge to a lost man in a monastery because they are housing the devil there.  Then he lets him out after all his howling (remember that one?).

The poor woman missed her boat and was beside herself.  Me, if I were stranded on a wonderful island, hmmmm, perhaps I would rejoice.  I felt awful for her, my heart sank.  I honestly have never heard someone howl like that with such a moaning voice.  A ship person later told me when people miss the boat (& it happens often) they send them on a puddle jumper to the next island.  Ok, may be fun, but I'm sure they also charge like crazy for that.  NOOOOOOOO........ Nooooooo...........  Ah help.

Imagine running up this plank as your boat is pulling out?