Liner Lady

Wednesday, 20 April

Arose at nine o’clock and checked with C. around ten, when he announced he couldn’t come out because they were having a surprise Captain’s inspection and he had to clean up his cabin.  I kidded him about little Johnny can’t come out to play.  I then decided to walk around to Lido Deck, then remembered the Canal lecture.  Attended it and found it most interesting.  Ate the buffet lunch with a lady from Ft. Lauderdale who has been on board all the way.  A couple from Birmingham joined us for a while till I left for the Boat Deck near two o’clock.  I sat in the accustomed spot, first playing my recorders, then listening to my recital tape.  Got interested inquiries from a crew painter and the cockney jovial guy from the tender.

C. finally emerged around three thirty to report he must wash a shirt then will be out.  Ha!  Again I waited in vain in the hot humid air till after five, but finally gave up for the cooler cabin.  Did some washing and my shower.

I took a walk around Boat Deck and up to Sun Deck, then dressed for dinner.  Fred Boaden finally called me and came to talk about the music.  He seems apprehensive of tackling a classical concert, since he’s oriented for dance music, but will tackle it.   I walked up to Queen’s Room to peek into the special World Cruise party, then to dinner.  Had pasta, lamb ragout and coupe Souchard.  Guy was a sketch, this evening.  First he gave me two long rolls saying it’s the last chance.  He joshed Mary about not quite finishing her meal and speared her last piece of potato and handed it to her to eat, which she did while we all laughed.  Both Guy and Peter are happy young men; sheer delights; a real clown is Guy!

By the way, while Fred was in my cabin, C.  called to say he again fell asleep, while waiting for his shirt to dry.  I kidded him about it being hypnotic – We’ll meet tonight after work.  Meanwhile, after dinner, I attended the piano recital by Monica Gutman in the Theatre, and returned to my cabin by a little after ten.  Watched a modern version of the “Hound of the Baskervilles,” and waited till midnight for C. but finally went to bed without seeing him.  Stood up three times today!

 Thursday, April 21, 1988 – Panama Canal Transit

I awoke at seven to see islands passing by, so got in my clothes quickly and zoomed on deck to join the throng.  Stood in the accustomed spot and at one point C. looked out and waved.  We passed under a large bridge at Balboa, then proceeded slowly into the left lock of Miraflores locks.  The “Azur,” a heavily lumber-loaded freighter filled the right lock and we started the rise of 54 feet.  When arriving at the Pedro Miguel locks C. popped out for a quick look, then back to work.  I tried the port side a while, which was shaded and much cooler.  C. managed 30 minutes or so in the sun as we passed through Gaillard Cut.  Took pictures of each other and the scenery.  He spotted an alligator, but I missed it.  After he left I remained a short time, then went back to the cabin as we entered the big Gatun Lake.  Feeling refreshed, I then went to Queen’s Room area to observe from a cool spot.  Ate lunch by myself at the Lido Deck and chatted briefly with a young waiter from Turkey who has only been aboard since Acapulco.   I went back on deck this time equipped with tape recorder, and when the QE2 and “Sea Wind” tooted their horns I got it on tape.  I was standing on forward observation deck.  Paul and Patricia were up there so we took pictures of each other.  Paul also joined me occasionally where I was sitting and we talked of our memories when Pearl Harbor and President Kennedy’s Assassination happened.  All the while we were in this huge lake of tropical rain forest surrounding us.  I was reminded of the everglades with hummocks, but then I reminded myself of the immense leviathan under me to bring me back to the wonder of it all.

C. came out briefly as we were waiting at the First Gatun Lock.  We were delayed there because of an electrical failure on the first locomotive.  The brusher wasn’t making contact with the power rail.  C. had to go in because he said he was being watched.    We went through the three levels of the Gatun Locks finally, and all along people on shore waved and cheered us as we waved back.  Some of the employees in the control towers came out to the level of Boat Deck to greet and be greeted.  Some of the people said security was very tight, but I didn’t see any evidence of it.  Some saw men with guns but again I didn’t.

As we pulled away to the Caribbean, I was talking with a woman from Indiana.  She is a violin, viola and cello teacher so we had much to talk about, since I used to play ‘cello as well.  I returned to the cabin by five o’clock to prepare hair, shower etc. for dinner.   Met Hampton for dinner and we ordered the lamb chops.  These came with little dough cups of mint jelly.  Pasta to start, and a rich gateau and ice cream with chocolate sauce finished us off!   I wandered back to the cabin after nine o’clock, sewed up my slip finally and listened to oldies on the TV-radio channel (18).  Guy is still very funny.  He gives me a hard time because I gave up trying to eat little – “What happened to the days when you only wanted a slice of pineapple?”

Having returned to  my cabin, I realized I didn’t have my sandals, and surmised I had left them on deck.  I then dashed barefoot up stairway A two steps at a time from Four Deck to Boat Deck.  On the way, as I barreled by the forward entrance to the Mauretania Restaurant, there was Captain Bennell with his wife Sheila also heading upwards.  I slammed on my brakes, and made a big deal of him catching me in my bare feet, and we joked a bit about it.  Fun. He assured me I would find those sandals still there, and yes, I found them and beat it back to wait for C.’s call, which came near eleven o’clock.  He fetched me for the trek to the Pig, where I saw Neil, met his mom Sheila, and chatted with C. about the wet floors in the kitchens, US inspections of food quality, and his day in general.  Saw Bryan at the bar.  We also discussed ideas for my party.  He only gets three weeks off in June.  — We then headed for the bow deck, and watched the stars.   We wended our way to the cabin via the maze and a brief stop at his cabin.