Debarkation and Travel and Final Thoughts

We had #2 tags, so we could get off the ship almost at any point. We went and enjoyed a nice MDR breakfast with two Canadian couples. There were a ton of people in the MDR for breakfast this morning. We probably should have gone a little faster at breakfast, and I definitely didn’t need that last chocolate donut and chocolate milk (but I sure did like it). Anyway, there was quite a line to get off the ship by the time we were doing it. For some reason, there was less of a line if you had odd numbered luggage tags.


A final shot of the ship as we were waiting in line to get to the luggage.

Once we finally got to a porter, things moved along better. After we got our stuff, he took us over to the other side where the odd numbered tags were going through customs. Way, way, way shorter customs lines on that side.

I left mom with all the luggage and I went to get our rental car. I then picked up her and the luggage. It was a rainy day, so no loss on not getting a convertible for this leg. I dropped mom at the bus station and went to return the car. I was hoping to take the nice cheap bus back to the bus station, but I had apparently just missed the needed busses to make it back in time. So I had to take a taxi. We then got on the Megabus to Atanta.

After the cruise, when we had turned our phones back on, we got messages about my aunt. She had complications from what should have been routine gall bladder and hernia surgery. She had nearly died, and was now still in ICU. She lives in Augusta about 2.5 hours east of Atlanta. So we went to her after the Megabus, and one pre-arranged Atlanta hotel night. I left my mom in Augusta, and I had to return back home in order to work.

Overall it was really a great trip with some once-in-a-lifetime moment. The ending was rather a bummer to come back to that news. But I really have no major complaints, and feel so much happier and rested after this great vacation.

One other random thought on the cruise: I never understood on this trip the difference that a really great CD can make. Richard Spacey was great. So funny and fun. It just made the whole trip more fun in an unexpected way.

The eventual drive back home was even prettier as the mountain had finally begun to turn green again as well.

I ended the trip with another Popeye’s meal and then got back to my eating plan the next day.

My aunt could still use any and all prayers.  She seemed to be doing better for awhile and they took her off the respirator, but she's taken a turn for the worse now.  She's having trouble breathing.  They are considering putting her back on the respirator.