sea legs

Following my partner's surprise 40th birthday hoo-ha, it's good to be back on land. The surprise centered around a 4-day cruise on the Celebrity Century: Thursday in Miami, Friday in Key West, Saturday in Cozumel, Sunday at sea, Monday back in Miami. Though we've cruised before (heh...), I'm still struck by the odd "sea legs" phenomenon. For days now, I'm still occasionally struck by the feeling that I'm rocking a tiny bit. It's not an uncomfortable sensation, just curious.
Regardless, the trip was great thanks to Celebrity, the Coconut Cove Guesthouse in Fort Lauderdale, and, most of all, all of those who were on-hand to mark Fernando's birthday. Beyond those who were present, I'm thankful to so many people for keeping the months-long preparations under their hats.
As an added bonus, I'm adding one photo from the trip. It's a photo of my mother and me taken by her pal, Harriet, in the Century's martini bar on the formal night. When I look at this photo, all I can think about is how I wish her genes had been more assertive than my father's. She's 75 years old and looks fantastic. She doesn't even dye her hair, while my temple grays are beginning to bust out at 37. I'm actually the age she was when she had me, but not aging nearly as well. But with her devotion to moderation, I suppose she's earned it. My appetites, on the other hand, tend toward excess.