People Watching

This is our last day on the cruise ship.  Tomorrow morning, we will dock at a city whose name I can’t pronounce, and then we’ll travel to Santiago where we’ll stay two days before heading home.

At the moment, I am sitting by the pool sipping a virgin pina-coloda.  The roof above the pool is open, and the sky is bright blue.  The water is calm, and the slight sway of the ship is almost hypnotic.  It’s a warm, South American summer day cruising on the Pacific.  Rob is watching the extended edition of “The Return of the King” on his ipad (with the headphones), and I am alternating between typing on my computer and watching the people around me.  A cruise ship is a very good place to people-watch.

I glance up and see the long haired, middle-aged tango master who performed in the “show room at sea” a few nights ago.  He’s got to be at least fifty, but you’d never know it to see him move.  If I remember right, he’s from Argentina, but he’s performed all over the world, including a command performance for the Queen.  I can’t hear what he’s saying right now, but he’s gesturing wildly while he tells a whopper of a story to the two younger men at his table.  They are hanging on his every word.  Now the tango master is standing up to demonstrate some dance moves, and the guys listening start to chuckle.  Apparently, its all part of the story.  Wish I could hear it.

Closer to the pool is a young man in a wheel chair wearing shorts and a white fedora.  I’ve seen him a few times maneuvering around the ship.  I even saw him getting into a tender (small boat) when we were shuttled from the cruise ship to the distant pier.  Not an easy feat for someone in a wheel chair.  Brave guy.  I wonder what his story is.

Oh, look!  There’s the older, oriental couple I saw dancing last night.  I bet they were ball room dancers at one time.  Their dancing was very elegant and upright.  Even their fingers when they clasped hands were held just so.  Her little pinkie was raised as if she were holding a tea cup.  There was very little expression on their faces, but they were beautiful to watch.  I thought they were all beautiful, the people dancing last night.  

Glancing over at Rob, I notice tears welling in his eyes as he looks at his ipad screen.  Yep, he must be getting to the end of the movie.  He’s probably watching the part where they crown Aragorn.  Or maybe the part where Frodo leaves with the Elves.  Rob is a marshmallow man when it comes to movies.  You can always count on him to weep openly at the first hint of sappy-ness.  Now he’s taking a furtive look around and quickly wiping his eyes, and I can’t repress a smile.  Sometimes it’s the gruff ones who are the biggest softies inside.

Well, I guess I should go.  I would stay and people-watch all afternoon, but I mustn’t neglect my duties.  In the dining room, there is a fifty foot buffet, and there are only twelve hundred people on board to eat it.  I must do my part.

Chao!