Home again! (well, at least California again)

Well, thus ends my second contract with Celebrity Cruises! I can't believe how fast it went...3 months felt like just a few weeks, whereas 6 months felt like a year. :-) Maybe my next contract (5 months) will feel right. Yep, it looks like I will be staying with Celebrity after all for one more contract - they have agreed to get me a higher salary and I really can't wait to experience that itinerary.

My flight was very smooth and all the transitions went without problems. I had a fun and talkative seating partner - we entertained each other for half of the flight (whenever I wasn't asleep). I was met at the airport by my sister, three wonderful friends, and a big sign. :-) I wish I had been more awake at that point to enjoy being home, but I was definitely ready for bed. I spent the night with Chelsea on campus at APU, and then subbed with the APU jazz band the next day at a concert. It was fun to play with a big band again, even if I was jet lagged. I spent last night with my friend Dayna, as she needed to finish fitting my dress for my friend's Sean and Sheena's wedding tomorrow, and she is finishing up as we speak. As soon as she does we'll be off to meet the rest of the wedding party at a hotel for tonight, and then the wedding is first thing tomorrow morning. So it will be tomorrow night before I actually get to go home, unpack, and sleep in my bed. But I figure, I've been away from it for 3 months, whats 3 more days? I don't mind living out of a suitcase a little while longer. It sort of just feels like my contract hasn't quite finished yet - I won't feel that until I get home. Ha ha, during the jazz band concert I had a moment of panic when I realized I wasn't wearing my name badge.

Looking back on the contract, I think it was good for me musically. I got a lot more experience in a couple of areas - especially broadway pit-orchestra style music, and dixieland. It was very different from my last contract, which is really great. I made some good friends that I will be missing, especially the acapella group (Shaun the most), Anabelle (harpist) and Andy, my musical director. Looking back I can realize I had a really great team to work with, good musicians and friendly, competent management. I am glad I got to improve musically in some new areas, and I feel like it was a very successful contract. I'm looking forward to the next one! I'll post a couple times between now and July to let you know what I'm up to - but for now I will say goodbye, and thanks for reading! I appreciate your support and encouragement throughout this contract and the last one. The fun begins again July 4th: Europe, here I come! Goodbye for now, and thanks again!