Do you know how many feet are in a fathom?

George and I took our first cruise because he knew the answer to that question (6). I personally cannot fathom why he was aware of that, but that tidbit made him the big winner on a television game show in 1987 and his prize was a Carnival cruise to the western Caribbean. While we enjoyed that trip, we didn't feel very at home on that ship. When we got back we did a little research culminating in a series of Princess cruises in the 90's which worked much better for us. Now we've done a couple of Radisson cruises and probably cannot go back.

George is a cognitive psychologist and he works at Intel as an engineering director (there is a logical connection there, just trust me on that one). He enjoys scuba diving and photography. He grew up in Florida and sang for many years in the St. Petersburg boy choir. Now he has a lovely baritone voice not at all suitable for boy choirs.

My father was a navigator in the Air Force, so I grew up moving all over the world as a child. I think that perhaps the navigation gene skipped this generation, as I am usually the laughingstock of the crew when we cruise because I can be found even on the last day using my ship's diagram to find my way to breakfast. I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag. I used to work at Intel, too, but I became ill about ten years ago and have had to stop working. We have found cruising an ideal vacation because the biggest effort is just getting to the ship. Once I'm there, I can rest as I must and my needs need not impact the rest of the family. I play the flute and up until last fall when the younger of our two sons went off to college, I was an active mom. Now I keep in touch with the boys via phone and send them care packages replete with refined carbohydrates.

We have lived in Portland, Oregon for 21 years (but please do not ask me for directions). I noticed that there is a Radisson cruise that will stop in Astoria, Oregon, later this year. At first, I was puzzled by that but this really is beautiful country, worth a visit at least once in everyone's life.

We are still getting used to the empty nest but it's not nearly as traumatic as I thought it would be. We look forward to MINT this November and we also hope to be aboard the Mariner in November of 2005 as well for the 16-day voyage from Auckland to Los Angeles.

I have so enjoyed getting to know other Cruise Critic and now LCT posters on board the Mariner and the Paul Gauguin. These long-distance friendships have come to fruition in face-to-face meetings, increasing the enjoyment of cruising exponentially.

Marna Lou