Halfway

Last Friday marked the halfway point in my time here at home. 5 weeks down, 5 to go, apporoximately. Since I have been home I have been relaxing quite a bit, but also driving a lot all over SoCal catching up with friends and relatives. I got the chance to go to my brother Tyler's Master of Percussion graduate recital, which was incredible. As usual, I am in awe of his talent and work ethic!! About 2 weeks ago my sister Holly was married to the wonderful Tomas Garcia, and I welcome my new brother. Holly was the most beautiful bride. My mom and I are still winding down from all the wedding planning. Next?? My brother's wedding in less than 4 weeks, and I will welcome a new sister as well. I can't believe all the changes that are happening in such a short time. Two of us Smith kids married, two to go, I guess. :-) I do feel like our family is just getting bigger, though, rather than losing them.

I can't believe how quickly this time is passing, and soon I will start possibly the longest contract I have ever had. I have heard good things about the ship, and that many nights off per week will be coming my way, due to canned music in the production shows. I certainly won't complain about more free time, though. Until then, I am really trying to make the most of my time here. I try to go swing dancing whenever I can, since it is something I really miss when I am gone. I don't get the chance to dance on ships....usually I'm the one playing the big band music. And lack of dance partners doesn't help either. So I have been making time to go dancing - it is one of the great joys in my life. Speaking of which, I can't understand people who look bored or miserable while dancing...if you aren't having fun and loving it, why dance?? I can't help but smile most of the time when I'm dancing.

Well, that's just a short update for now...I'll put up a few more before I leave, and then the serious blogging will begin again as soon as I'm off to see more of the world. Have a wonderful day, everyone!!!

Catching up: my last week on the Voyager

(FInal Voyager Photos and more here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2109230&id=56903845&l=038e3df35b)

So I have been told that I need to update this even though I'm not on board a ship anymore - here goes! I meant to post as soon as I arrived home but have been putting it off. So this will be the first of several posts as I try to catch up with myself.

First - my last week on board. Ironically, the week began with me finally meeting a wonderful fellow Christian! Why now? Why not 4 months ago??? He is a great guy, a photographer on board from South Africa, and we spent a lot of time together all week whenever possible, having some amazing conversations and just enjoying the fellowship of another believer. Although we had only just started to get to know each other, he was one of the hardest people to say goodbye to. I will be keeping him in my prayers, especially that God will send him another believer as a friend, because I know how hard it can be. But it was great meeting him and being encouraged.

All week long I tried to make the most of the ports without stressing out too much. In Grand Cayman I went out to lunch at a nice seafood place on the water, and had some delicious-but-so-bad-for-you fish and chips. Then I went snorkeling for the last time and really enjoyed it. At one point the fish must have thought I had food because they were all surrounding me....it was a neat experience. We laid in the sun a bit before heading back to the ship. In Jamaica I went out with some friends for the famous jerk chicken and pork at the Pork Pit in Montego Bay. It was so good!! My last night on the ship even Vic (our 65 year old drummer) came out for a drink after our final big band set, and as a parting gift bought me a dry martini with olives, which I had to drink to the dregs or be forever shunned. Not my favorite drink ever!!! But I managed to finish it and tried to look happy about it. Afterwards I went up to Johnny Rockets for one last hoorah with Catherine, one of the singers. We ran into a John and J.C. of the Texas Tenors there, and it was nice to get a chance to say goodbye to them as well. They left before us, and when Cat and I finished we were told that they had already paid for our dinners. It was so sweet of them to do, and so classy of them to do it quietly and leave before we had any idea. Yes, they get major points for that. :-)

After dinner was finished, and I had turned in my suitcases to security, the night continued with one final game of phase 10, the card game which I learned on board and which has dominated my contract. It was only fitting to play a final game on my last night (I lost...oh well), and we finished around 3am. After lots of goodbyes I finally crashed for the night, and awoke to the news that we were fogged out of Galveston and couldn't dock. What?! You mean I can't go home? So I rolled over and went back to sleep. We finally docked around 2 pm, and I finally disembarked after all the guests had gone, around 6pm. Our flights had been rescheduled, mine for the following morning. The good news was this gave me a chance to spend some time with the Smith family I had met a few weeks back, who live in Houston. Instead of going to my hotel, they picked me up and brought me home, fed me leftover Easter dinner, gave me my own room, and the girls performed a cute dance routine they had made up together to Michael Buble's "Everything". I had a great night, and they took me to the airport in the morning. I was home by 10am, had my In N Out, visited Tyler and Chelsea, and returned to good old Lake Arrowhead for the first time since October 2nd, 2009.