Great cruise, gained a pound a day

In 24 hours my friend, Regina, and I will head from the ship to the coastal train from LA’s Union Station to San Diego’s Old Town. From there we go to her she-shed for a few days of cruise recovery and local adventures on Shelter Island, where I used to live.

I did it all – walked for miles and dined on every morsel I love most. We felt like royalty with authentic culinary creations from India, Mexico, France, Italy and Japan. My favorite morsels were fresh Maryland crab, oysters from Cape Cod and Maine lobster. 🦞 My soul home is still New England.

Passengers on Celebrity can become more fit, healthier and lose weight on a Celebrity cruise ship. Besides many fitness classes, there is an abundance of luscious fruits and fresh crunchy vegetables at every meal for a total wellness experience.

I learned history and philosophy at the seminars. I painted watercolors of great white whales and soft pink orchids. 🌸 I swam laps in the adult pool before relaxing in the bubbling hot tub. I sang and danced to live bands, piano and guitar music. In the morning I lay in silence on a warm contour lounge in a quiet spa with sauna and steam.

I barely wrote a word.

This was a true vacation exploring the Mexican Rivera from an elegant and comfortable ship.

For a touch of drama I nearly died. A man named Greg saved my life during Easter dinner.

Regina and I asked for a quiet table for two overlooking the ocean. We were sitting near a group of four. When a small piece of shrimp shell, I thought was cocktail sauce, became lodged sideways in my throat, I began to choke.

Regina saw my hand signal and asked for help. I lost air and could not take a breath. I could only shake my head yes or no.

Greg, a retired EMT and fireman sitting near me leaped into action. He is an expert in the Heimlich maneuver. Greg was strong yet gentle and didn’t break my ribs. He saved my life. He is my hero.

The ship’s paramedics arrived to take my pulse when I was sitting down to continue my dinner.
I requested a bottle of bubbly to celebrate with all my saviors.

Everyday I awake feeling more grateful than ever.

I am alive and healthy. My throat is still scratchy but I feel doubly blessed. As a bonus I have four new friends. Greg and his wife, Connie, from Dayton, Ohio. Dayton is my dad’s birth place and where my first child was born nearly 60 years ago. The others who participated in my medical emergency are Liz and Bruce. We are all Ohio State football fans. The six of us met again to celebrate at Captain Theo’s farewell sunset fiesta.

The rest of our journey was delightfully uneventful. We met a few locals in Puerto Vallarta while sipping a cold Mexican beer on a warm sunny day.

I’m sad to leave our comfortable cruise. Yet I look forward to returning to the simple life in my peaceful lakeside cabin filled with love. I have learned that the best part of going away is coming home.

Feature photo, one of the pools on Celebrity photo by Regina