Friday night in a hotel in Fort Lauderdale.

Now I can scratch off Florida on my ‘Been there’ map

even if I only saw a teeny part.

It counts.

Of course it counts.

A little bit counts, right?

Saturday morning walked across the street to the beach.

A little walk in the most un-beach attire.

Then saw a little more of Fort Lauderdale

on the way to the ship.

Of course there was a line.

On board the ship and found my room.

One week on board the ship and I had to keep rediscovering my room.

Saturday night at sea.

Will I get sick? 

I bought pills in case I got sick.

I did not get sick.

Sunday at sea.

Figuring out how to navigate the ship.

Figuring out the routine.

Monday I can say,

I traveled up a hill in the Dominican Republic

and zip lined

and ate some native fruit

and rode back down the hill to the ship.

Tuesday I awoke

and discovered my excursion was canceled

because of ‘rough waters’

so no looking for whales.

Plan B

went to shore and rode a horse.

I’m from Wyoming,

I can ride a horse

“Did I waste my money?”

“Don’t let go!”

they called to us riding in a line.

“Don’t let go to take pictures!”

Except me.

Me? 

They looked at me and decided I needed help apparently.

A guide led my horse.

“You can let go,” he told me.

I’m not sure why I wasn’t entrusted to guide my own horse

but I was grateful.

Just because I’m from Wyoming

doesn’t mean I know how to ride a horse.

They guided us along the road.

“Did I waste my money?”

I think again.

“I feel like I wasted my money.”

Then they led us to the shore

and I rode a horse in the ocean.

Can’t do that in Wyoming.

Wednesday at sea.

I get used to the ordering food

from wherever and they find me.

Also, a gift from my sister when I get a massage.

That’s a nice sister.

Thursday I walked a Bahama beach

and finally enjoyed a warm water

fine sand

beach day.

A stingray circled by.

A swordfish swam by.

A school of fish tried to ignore us all.

Most of us just stood in the water.

Just stood.

That was enough

to enjoy.

Too much.

I was very unwise

and left with probably the worst

sunburn of my life.

The rest of the trip I asked myself,

“I’m too old to be this stupid, aren’t I?”

The answer is

no.

Still stupid.

That was the first night I felt sick.

But not sea sick.

Probably sun poisoning.

And then,

just like that,

Saturday it was all done

the ship was back at port

it was time to go home

with some memories

and a few more places

to scratch off my map

because a little bit

counts.

© 2026 ck’s days