It occurs to me that these posts now, anticipating where I will be in a year on the cruise, are kind of like an old Michael Caine movie, whose title I can't remember. It's a caper movie that starts out with Michael Caine's character explaining his plot to his accomplice. Shirley McClaine is to be recruited to be part of it, and as MC talks, we see the plot playing out just as he wants, with Shirley McClaine's character sitting silent and mysterious, which is just what his plot requires. Then we see how the plot actually plays out, with SMcC being lively and intelligent and unpredictable. Of course, in the end, that's just what's required, they pull off the heist, MC's character falls in love with SMcC's character, and they all live h.e.a. It's an American movie, of course they live h.e.a.
The reason I cite this movie is because I'm beginning to suspect these fantasies of what it will be like will turn out to have nothing whatsoever to do with the actual experience of being on the cruise. Now, it's me sitting at my computer daydreaming (with the help of Wikipedia) about places I have no real idea about. Then, it will be me on this enormous boat with 1000 other people actually being there. Actually being there, 3-D, air as hot or cold or humid or dry or ocean-smelling or hurricane-ridden as it really is, people, both on the ship and at the ports, being as unexpected and fascinating as people actually are, Sun beating down with tropical furor or enveloped in icy clouds or hidden in storm clouds. And no living h.e.a. because there is no e.a., just now, and now, and now.
Dang. Just can't find any substitutes for reality, can we?
Does anyone remember the name of that movie?
that sounds like Gambit, a late 60's movie, with MC trying to rip off a rich widow, and using SM to do the deed.
ReplyDeleteand you're absolutely right, Roberta, there is no HEA around here, just the flexibility to deal with the every day challenges of being human in strange places.