"Better than Sex"

Today was May Day. As we gathered for breakfast, our host, Carol, made May Day baskets of fresh flowers for her daughters. I was instantly reminded of Marlys, who had relayed stories of leaving handmade May Day baskets full of candies and nuts on door knobs, in her younger years. The rule of thumb was to leave the treats, knock on the door, and run; if caught, you would owe the recipient a kiss!

Breakfast conversation was lively this morning, as newcomers had arrived. The fact that I had met The Premier the night before was also a topic of amusement. One of the fellow guests asked me, "Who will it be next? Michael?" She was casually referring to the actor, Michael Douglas, who lives a stone's throw away. 

Perhaps I shall volunteer to walk the cat...

After breakfast, I hurried to write my update, before heading off to meet my friend, Michelle, and her brother for lunch on Elbow Beach.The two of them were spending their last day on the island, before shipping out with Royal Caribbean's mammoth ship, 'Anthem of the Seas'. We had a perfect lunch at Mickey's (Quinoa salad with roasted carrots,whipped goat cheese and toasted almonds), and an quick toast to Fred's birthday, before changing into our swimsuits.

Typically, the hues of the water in Bermuda can transfix you; it is a known hazard of looking offshore. Similar to most sane visitors, who see Bermuda's coastline for the first time, Michelle and Fred could not believe how gorgeous the ocean is. It is hard to fathom that we share the same Atlantic with Long Island. Our coastal palette seems to have gotten lost in translation.

Toward the end of our celebratory meal, the breezes were feeling good. Michelle voiced skepticism about going in the water. WHAT?! You cannot come to the beach in Bermuda, and leave without experiencing what it is like to float in the sea- surrounded by translucent, turquoise bliss.

I said, unequivocally (as a Cruise Director should), "OH NO! YOU ARE GOING IN!" That was the end of it! 

She jumped in first. I dived in after, emerging from the water to hear Michelle shout, in utter joy, "DAISY!!!!" "THIS IS BETTER THAN SEX!!!!" 

That remark will stay in my mind for days...probably years. I thought to myself, what a tagline for Bermuda Tourism... On second thought, NO.

Larry returned to escort Fred and Michelle back to Dockyard. They had to be prudent and prompt- or else hear, "Your ship has sailed"- ha ha! It actually happens often, they say- absent-minded tourists, getting left behind by cruise ships. There are worst places to be abandoned, for sure. I guess you have to wear a watch, when taking a cruise. I am lucky; I don't need one!

We rode across the island listening to SOCA music, and made it back in time. We exchanged hugs and goodbyes, and acknowledged how much fun it was, to have a day away from the Hamptons together. Michelle was one of the ladies who took care of Marlys in the earlier days of her illness. We were reunited in 2014, having been in High School together 'back in the day'.

Headed back East, Larry and I found a handsome traveler, who needed a ride to his hotel (the fabulous Cambridge Beaches). He was a German engineer, named Marcel- just here for one night, from Florida. "They flew me in", he said- referring to Royal Caribbean. I sat in the back seat, wondering what kind of business he could be in, to fly into Bermuda for one day of work. My kind of job, whatever it was...

"What do you do?", I asked him. "I came to repair one of the boats- the ones that you see on the side of the ship", he explained, in a rich German accent. In quasi-disbelief, I said "You repair LIFE BOATS?! Were you working on THE ANTHEM OF THE SEAS?!" 

I had to ask, as a dutiful friend should... "Incidentally, which life raft was broken?" 

He had just fixed #15. I hadn't known that life rafts have engines (in actuality, they have two)... At any rate, I texted Michelle straight away! Good to know which life boats are in tip-top shape, as you venture out on the open Atlantic.

Cruise ships are quite surreal, up close. They just keep getting larger and larger, to the extent that they do not resemble ships much- unless you look at their pointy fronts. Bermuda gets a lot of visitors from ships, during the high season. Most of them now dock at the West End, because they are too massive to navigate Hamilton Harbor. 

I find it peculiar to have a vehicle that can bring 5000 people to your shores on a given day, but the hope is to fuel the local economy. Word is, that Bermuda needs more air travelers, because cruisers tend to dine onboard, and spend less money at local places. Air travelers, like me (a diehard) must infuse capital daily- to do just about everything.

I was tired at this point. I planned to stay in, and order 'take out', to eat on the charming terrace here. Yet, it was such a lovely night. A conundrum. 

I wound up being lured (by my own mind) to Gibbs Hill Lighthouse for dinner. Little did I know, that it was the first night that The Dining Room was serving on the patio. I sat right at the edge of the mini-cliff, making sure not to make any quick movements in my chair, or else roll down a steep hill. Lovely chardonnay, and yummy Spaghetti Carbonara. Not something I typically order, but the sea air has me craving pasta.

Back at Granaway, Olive the tiger cat greeted me, as I unlatched the gate. We sat in the moonlight, and I told her about my day. Animals are such a blessing in our lives. 

Especially when we have holes in our souls, in need of some caulking.