Final Day - Inside Passage to Vancouver - June 30, 2018

June thirtieth . . . Bobby's birthday, my baby brother. He's been gone for about seven years now. I still miss him and think of him often, but especially so on June 30. Rest in peace, my dear brother.

After four days full to the brim of activity during the day and fun at night, a day at sea was welcomed. We said good-bye to passengers and cruise staff members we particularly liked.

The four of us also had a blast hanging out in the Constellation Lounge playing cards and listening to one last Milos Radokovich science lecture - this one was strictly Q&A. There was some very interesting conversation on global warming. One passenger challenged him and asked what if you and others like you are wrong? He quoted some professor who claimed that global warming is the biggest hoax of our time. Milos had no patience for that and put him in his place. Yikes! We also got one last opportunity for watching wildlife as we cruised through beautiful tight passages. We saw more whales! In fact it was the best whale sighting on the whole trip. And in the narrow passage, we got a close-up view of a whole pod of 5 or 6 big humpbacks blowing, feeding and diving!

As we played cards, Stan found a winning streak! Stan kept getting "skip" cards and most often he skipped me. He got so many it was like there was no end to them. After a while it was a bit demoralizing. I grew so low that I didn't even notice when he would discard almost anything and say, "skip Janie," and I'd believe it. He got his just deserts though, Cody whipped his tail.

Well another trip is over. More experiences for the memory book, made fantastic by having Cody and Tessa share it with us. On all our trips I have to make a point of thanking God for this incredible planet and for the blessings he give us to 1) to have the drive and desire to see it and appreciate it and 2) for giving us the where-with-all to actually do it. Yes, the world has its problems. It does. But somehow, I choose to think that every time we visit a new place or meet people from other countries or areas of the world, we learn, we show love, tolerance and appreciation; whether we intend to or not, we are ambassadors. We hope to walk as Jesus would have us in our travels. We hope that as we meet and mix with others, this in some very small way, helps to pave the way to break down walls that separate us those we don't know or understand. We hope that as we learn and as we show kindness and respect to those who might fear and mistrust us that these small things will help again, in some very small way, to bind us as brothers and sisters of God's world. We are blessed and we are thankful.

Alaska, June 30,2018