Note: This post contains three (3) photos, all taken by Linda with a Google Pixel 6.
MONDAY 25 December 2023 — A Christmas Surprise
Although we do not celebrate Christmas (Easter, etc.) as religious holidays, we have always gathered as a family, if possible, on these days. Since Madeline came into the world 11 years ago, it has been the family tradition to gather at her parent’s house (our son and daughter-in-law) on Christmas day. The tradition has always been to have some form of breakfast meal before opening gifts. That meal has occasionally involved some serious cooking, but more recently has been fruit and bagels with lots of choices of things to put on the bagels.
The family at the breakfast table, minus Linda (who is taking the photo). L-2-R, Chris, Meghan, Madeline, Brendan, Shawna, Sadie and me (Bruce). Marilyn’s right arm is visible in the lower left of the frame. Note that Brendan’s family is sporting matching holiday pajamas.
Madeline poses in front of the Christmas tree, which is surrounded by wrapped gifts.
Christmas is still a big deal for the two youngest grand-daughters, as the previous photos show, but this Christmas held a special surprise; the revealing of the family cruise in late February 2024 on the Disney Crise Line ship DREAM. The moment was met with the anticipated squeals of delight.
The girls were, understandably, very excited, especially the 11-year-old (Madeline) who exclaimed (in a high-pitched, excited voice) “I finally get to go on a cruise.” This seemed to imply that she was “finally” getting to do something that she felt she deserved to do but had somehow been arbitrarily and unfairly denied the experience. And she was very much aware that Linda and I (Ama and Apa to Sadie) had been on a couple of cruises recently and obviously had enjoyed the experience. But she had been to Walt Disney World three times and had a very tangible understanding of what it meant to be doing something “Disney.” We also knew she had been hoping to go a cruise someday (sooner rather than later) and we were pleased at her obvious excitement, and that we were able to make this happen sooner rather than later.
The itinerary was western Caribbean, including Cozumel, but that was not an important detail at this stage. This was going to be all about the cruise, which would include a “Marvel Day at Sea” and a “Pirate Day.” Arrrgh, matey.
Sadie takes her turn in front of the Christmas tree and gifts.
The 5-year-old (Sadie) was also very excited, of course, especially when she understood that whatever else this experience might be about, it was going to be a Disney-based family outing that included her parents, sister, and everyone else in the room, plus her cousin Katie, who was not able to make it home from North Carolina for the holidays.
Linda had booked the cruise, in consultation with all of the affected adults, and we were covering the cost of the four adjacent staterooms and the shore excursions, with everyone responsible for their own transportation and hotel costs. So, it was really a big Christmas present for everyone, including us. There will be blog posts on this family adventure sometime in the spring of 2024.
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