The Best of Times

Mariner of the Seas top deck at night with the pool deck shown below.  This is where we walk every morning when we're at sea and sometimes before shore excursions.  At night, we see Jupiter and Mars along with the moon but it is rare to see a sky full of stars because of the cloud cover.

                                                    Unusual formations occur frequently.

One verse and the chorus of the song The Best of Times by Styx can speak for many of us. 

I know you feel these are the worst of times
I do believe it's true
When people lock their doors and hide inside
Rumor has it it's the end of paradise
But I know, if the world just passed us by
Baby I know, you wouldn't have to cry, no no

The best of times are when I'm alone with you
Some rain some shine
We'll make this a world for two
Our memories of yesterday will last a lifetime
We'll take the best, forget the rest
And someday we'll find these are the best of times

These are the best of times

Forty-four years ago this song was released in 1981.  Our daughter, Marji, was two years of age.  Life was hard but it was the best of times when she was learning to walk and talk and say her version of words that we still repeat to each other.  In the mid 80's, when Ruth Ann was in medical school and completing her surgical residency, life was hard, we were as poor as church mice and loved ones died.  However, meeting the challenges brought the three of us closer together and it was the best of times.  

We were married in 1973 at the ages of 19 and 20.  Life was hard but we were too naive to know it.  All we had was love and that was enough for these two star-crossed lovers.  I would write more but as the saying goes; "If you remember the 70s, you weren't really there".

In the early 1990's, we had to start over again financially with more family deaths.  Life was hard!  Our son, Justin, was born and grew and our daughter became a teenager.   Remembering his early version of words, managing softball and baseball teams, piano lessons and so much more- it was the best of times

2000's brought a life changing medical challenge which nearly ruined us.  Life was hard!  Surviving this challenge brought all of us even closer together.  Playing in bands, helping with the marching band, graduations, managing baseball teams, Marji and Mike's wedding and the growth of Ruth Ann's practice- it was the best of times.

2010's brought another life threatening family medical challenge that frightened us terribly.  Life was hard!  Again, we didn't give up.  We rallied and our family became stronger and grew with two granddaughters, Grace and Caroline.  Grandchildren brought a whole new dynamic to our family and has brought us great joy- it was the best of times.

2020's has brought the best of times.  It seems like we passed the life tests and we've been rewarded with smooth sailing for a while.  Justin and Kavita's wedding, our retirement, Sunday family dinners and of course, grandparenting.  And now, we're sailing around the world.  However, seas will eventually swell and toss our lives back to life is hard.  No matter where we are in our life journey, life will be hard.  We must have faith that we'll take the best, forget the rest and look back and see that most of our journey was "The Best of Times"