I don’t know if I have mentioned it on this blog but I am going to have an interesting experience next week- I am going on a singles cruise!  Being that I live alone and work primarily alone the opportunities for me to meet new people are few and far between (plus, my ward has a 3 to 1 ratio and nearly 200 people!).  A friend of mine went on the singles cruise a couple of years ago and really liked it (ironically she was engaged when she set sail!). Anyway, I got an email from the Sandy institute (institute is kind of like LDS  Sunday school for youth) announcing the 2009 cruise.  This year the cruise happened to land on my birthday week.  Yes, I am turning 28 in a week.  I know it is only a year older than 27 but for some reason it feels much older to me.  It’s like I can feel 30 breathing down my neck.  You know next June is my 10 year high school reunion!  Crazy!

The other benefit to the cruise is how affordable it is- 6 nights for $512! In addition, I had a free airline ticket because I had volunteered my seat when I flew to Hawaii in April.  This means I can go on a long trip for very little.  I might spend less on the cruise than I do in my regular life! The other advantage is that it gives me the opportunity to see my friends in Southern Cali. I am going to spend 4 days with my friend Raelene after the cruise and I will get to see my good friend Emily (and I will get to see her newbaby- yeah!). I love getting together with old friends and reminiscing.  It is the best!

It will probably be a long time before I get to blog again but I wanted to write about this upcoming cruise.  It is interesting because on one hand I am excited but on the other I am a little nervous.  I think it is easy to think that as soon as I leave the world is going to fall apart.  How is everything with the properties and my other work going to get done if I am not here? I wish I could have the European sensibility of vacation as a right- as an essential part of life.  In Europe they close down for siestas and take weeks off at a time every year.  In America we see it more as a luxury, even a burden at times.  Do you’all ever feel that way?  This cruise is especially scary because I will be uncontactable for most of the time.  I will not have my normal crutches of internet and cell phones. I am not even going to bring my computer!  I am giving it to Jim and my dad who are going to take over my work while I am gone. I haven’t been on a trip without my computer since my trip to Japan in 2005 because before this job I needed it for school and other responsibilities.  It is going to be very weird and kind of scary.

On the other hand, I think this exhile is the part of the vacation I am looking forward to the most.  I am treating this cruise as a spa week, and I hope I will emerge energized and rejuvenated.  I have had so much sickness lately and I want to get healthy so badly.  I need an opportunity to become %100 well.  I also need some time to think back on the last year- think of the growth, learning and mistakes I made.  2008 was a year of healing for me and it is appropriate that I have some time at the beginning of 2009 to digest those experiences and make it a year of growth and strength.

Plus, who knows I could meet someone nice…stranger things have happened on a singles cruise!  There are over 160 LDS singles going (don’t know the guy/girl ratio but that doesn’t matter too much).   I just want to meet someone that I can talk to.  Someone I think is interesting and has a good heart.  I also greatly value education and responsibility.  I want someone that has direction, motivation, and inspiration in life.  Is this too much to ask? Sometimes it feel that way.  When it comes down to it, I want to fall in love.  I want the butterfly’s and the excitement, and I don’t think I should settle for anything less.  Is he going to be perfect?- of course not; but I still think I should be in love with the boy! I know the church doesn’t believe in fate, but my opinion is that while there may not be one person in the world for me, I don’t think there are hundreds floating out there.  I think there are a select few people in the world that I could actually be married to and be happy.  Really it is amazing as many people get together as do.  The chances are out of this world, but somehow it happens. Maybe someday it will happen to me.  Until then I will enjoy my cruise and try to put the nerves out of my head!  Any suggestions or thoughts on this post are most welcome.  I may not be writing again for a little while. We will see.  Bon Voyage!