After an exciting ocean adventure on the Pacific, it’s wonderful to be back home on the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada. Home, where there are family and friends to hug during these crazy times. Home with our sweet dogs. Home, where leaves are quietly falling as the rest of the world is going insane. Home at Winterpast.
Months ago, HHH won a cruise to Alaska, and September fit our plans. Avoiding the summer-break kids, it would surely be quieter after they were all back in school. And so, we booked our autumn adventure.
It seemed like an eternity as we waited for embarkation day. For six months, we counted off each day until the Sail-Away party. Throughout the summer, thoughts of lumberjacks and glaciers filled our minds. What would it be like? How vast would the wilderness be? Would we see bald eagles or grizzly bears? Whales? The Northern Lights? The answers to all those questions would wait until mid-September.
Packing was an adventure all on its own. Planning for Mexico is quite different than filling suitcases for Alaska. Two fifty-pound bags overflowed into three, with the addition of heavy boots, parkas, gloves, hats, and rain gear. We didn’t forget a thing, even packing mosquito repellent and sunscreen. There’d be no sunburning, swatting, or shivering once atop Mendenhall Glacier! We were prepared for any situation.
Our trip started out like every other cruise we’ve been on. Sailing away on the 17th floor of our cruise ship, things were grand under a soft Seattle mist. The dancers magically appeared from nowhere to entertain the new guests. We were on our way to an adventure that turned out a little different from what we’d hoped.
The first full day at sea was glorious. On the first formal night, everyone was excited to strut their finery throughout the ship. You would’ve never known we were headed to the rugged north. Fedora atop his head, HHH wore his new suit, with an even newer pink shirt and black tie. I’d been to the salon earlier in the day to have waist-length hair braided around a cobalt blue hair comb. Up-do-ed and shiny shoe-d, we enjoyed a night great memories are made of.
But, things were about to change…….
On Wednesday, the captain announced that the dangerous weather would force us inland. Six ships, including a sister ship to us, would wait together while 70 mph winds would blow through the open seas. It was simply too dangerous to continue towards the glaciers and Endicott Arm. With sadness, any hope of seeing glaciers was gone. Just like that.\
The rest of the trip was quite rough. Gone were any hopes of brilliant blue skies or postcard-perfect pictures. There were no grizzlies, or whales, or northern lights. We were lucky to avoid sea-sickness, even though we did manage to pick up a virus along the way.
While our ship rocked and rolled in the high seas, the mainland met its own turning point. Tumultuous seas with 15-foot swells were nothing compared to the sadness that swept over America. Sadness for a young wife and mom as she found the strength and courage to comfort us during HER time of loss. A turning point caused Christians throughout the country to find their collective voice while inviting others to know Christ.
Through very grey skies, this cruise wasn’t the most beautiful or adventure-filled. It started out promising to show us the beauty of our last great wilderness, but ended up being a time for reflection and acceptance of God’s plan.
How have the last two weeks affected you? Have you taken time for reflection? If life’s seas are rough for you right now, have you opened your heart to Jesus? Now is a great time to talk to Him. It will be the adventure of your lifetime.
More tomorrow.