Cruising with Dad

I went on a cruise with my parents, my sister, my baby nephew and an un-named brown and tan dachshund last night. It was my Dad’s idea. But he wasn’t willing to pay for more than two rooms on the ship. So he told the captain that he and Mum were staying in a resort with the baby and the dog. After the crew escorted them off the ship, they snuck back on board to join Kirsten and me. Dad and Mum used “my” room while I shared a room with Kirsten, the baby and the dog.

I know - not my idea of fun either.

I couldn’t imagine how we were going to keep the newborn quiet or walk the dog without anyone noticing. But one does not usually contradict Dad. While the rest of us worried and fretted about the mechanics of this arrangement, Dad explored the ship, delighted in the buffet lines, talked to everyone he met and generally had a good time.

I woke laughing. How like my Dad to try and save money, and to disappear for hours, enjoying himself thoroughly. Not that he usually did anything illegal like stowing away on a cruise ship. But he did take us on trips to Europe, where we had to survive on breakfast and an ice cream a day. Or trips in the USA, where all 6 of us stuffed into one hotel room – lined up on the floor like soldiers in barracks. And he regularly dropped Mum, girls and luggage at our gate and then disappeared to explore the airport for the next few hours. Sometimes, he almost missed the flight, and since he had the tickets and our passports, so did we. But he always had stories of all the delights he found.
Ah – the ‘good old’ days.

Dad won’t be taking us on anymore trips.

But it seems that my imagination, at least, will make up new ones to share with him.