CARIBBEAN QUEEN PT. 2 (Romance on the High Seas)

CARRACAS, Venezuela

March 25, 1986

TUESDAY - I woke up already docked in Carracus. Mom, Dad and I went on an 8 ½ hour excursion which we enjoyed very much. Caracas is either beautiful and very wealthy or VERY poor. But, what we saw was lovely. We had lunch at the Hilton of Carracus and it was very nice.

This is the Glass/Fire Blowing Plant and I could have watched them make things ALL day! Below is the "Froot Loop Bird" made from the fire above - TOO Coool!

After my excursion and a nap, I met John in his room. He, Kevin and I visited for quite a while, telling jokes and laughing as always all the time. After a while, his parents came in and we all joked and had a good time.

John's parents - Robert & Jeanie & brother Kevin

Finally, they had to go to dinner at 6:30 (they had early sitting and I had late.) Then after he ate, we went to his cabin and talked and kissed quite a bit. We started talking religion and here it goes again.. We agreed. He was raised Catholic, but his father is Methodist and if he were to choose a religion right now he’d choose Methodism. He said he’s Christian first. The only religion he doesn’t like is Baptist. How familiar. By the time I went to dinner at 8:30, I was bouncing off the walls with joy. I just couldn’t get over my luckiness meeting John. I Couldn't wait for dinner to be over to see him again. We met and went to listen to the Carribean Steel Drum Band on the deck and danced when no one else did. Later, we went to the Observation Lounge and watched some of the games being played. We played a few and then it was time to go dancing again. (Off and on throughout these nights we played the slot machines.) By this time, we knew we were more than just coincidental passengers. We danced until our little feet wore off. Then as always, we had our walk around the deck and this night, above all others before, it was.. Quite romantic.

March 26, 1986

WEDNESDAY - I went on the top of the deck with John, Kevin and Andi to watch us dock in Grenada. Then Andi and I tried to eat breakfast with John’s family, but were asked to leave because we were not in the proper seating. PTTTT! On them. It was funny. John and I hadn’t any excursions that day, so we spent the whole day together with Andi and Kevin. Very fun day. Grenada was charming, but I did get a little tired of the natives trying to get me to buy their spices, etc. We shopped around, I bought a dress, etc. In one store, John bought a tee shirt that said “Grenada thanks the U.S. and President Reagan for their independence.” And then it gave the date. I should have bought one like it. John asked me in that store what my political preferences were, and when I said Republican, he grabbed ahold of me and said “Fantastic!” Then Kevin said “You don’t believe in that abortion crap?” and I said “No.” We are truly compatible. Then we were hungry and hunted for a restaurant. A dog followed us around and Kevin called him Toby. By the time we got to the restaurant, Toby left. I ordered a hamburger, and they ordered sandwiches (Andi just got ice cream.) When I got my hamburger, they said they could smell it from where they were. Two bites was all it took and no more. It was horrible. Kevin called it a Toby Burger. He said “Notice, about the time we came here, the dog was gone.” Horrible thought, but it almost seemed true.

Afterward, we all went to the beach where Andi found Sergio and left poor Kevin to himself. John and I frolicked on the beach and in the water. What fun! The water was rather cold, but John did his best to keep me warm. We hugged and cuddled the whole time. On the way back, we saw Mom, Dad, Doris and Mike on the little boat that took us back to the ship.

I came back, sat on my bed and conked out. After a while, I took a shower. That night was Masquerade night. You were supposed to wear some type of costume or native costume. I wore the dress I bought in Grenada that day. (think this was my seafoam green flowing dress

I still have) - on Right

I felt in a very quiet mood that night. Then I went to dinner and Andi was in such a silly, good mood that it put me in a party mood. By the time she and I went back to John’s after dinner, he was in a quiet mood and we had to pep HIM up. John andI went to play Bingo and wait for the Masquerade Parade (Andi was going to be in it as Miss Texas.) We took pictures, waited and waited but no Andi. She never showed. After the parade, (we got bored before it was over) we went looking for her. She said, when we found her, that she was too embarrassed to do that. Sergio was all dressed up like a pirate, but chickened out also. I wasted a lot of film waiting for them. Oh well! John asked me what I wanted to do, and I said I'd like to visit down in his room. So we did. That night we were much more serious than ever. I explained to him about my old-fashionedness and how I took things seriously. He said he knew I would. Kevin walked in about that time and was ready to go to bed. So we went to my room. We pretty much started where we left off. I told him I was a virgin and he asked if I intend on always being one. I said until I get married. He said he liked that. We talked and kissed… more. At one point, he told me that he loved me. I Couldn't hardly believe it. He said I am everything he could ever want. I Could easily say the same for him. He knows more at 21 than many supposed men know at 25 plus. I knew after that night, if not before, that he’s very sensitive. Very attuned to my feelings as a woman. He knows what I like. I knew after this night that this was not a casual cruise romance. We were stuck.

John and me Dancing night after night! Andi & Sergio dancing!

King for a Day

https://youtu.be/b9ygIvMtcdw