June 17, 2011

Entirely too much to write about this week. What a week! It feels like each day LASTED a week, but I have to say I love it. I can honestly say I have never worked for a happier company. There are over 2,100 crew members on this ship and everyone smiles and says hi all the time. It’s like one big family of international proportions. There is a large hall that runs the length of the ship on Deck 2, and it is nicknamed I-95…even has interstate “signs” painted on the bulkheads and exit signs. This hallway is never empty…even at 3AM there is someone walking on it. And they all smile. It’s amazing.

Everyone is very helpful as well, from the Captain on down to the carpenters. Now, granted I have only been here a week, so it could be the blush still on the rose, but I don’t think so.

I have been trying to identify what it is in me that is responding so well to this environment, and the only thing that I can think of is that it combines the two things I like most…a military quality of teamwork and professionalism, combined with a creative performing side. The bulkheads are painted that army version of sea green, but there are also paintings on the them of funny and cute things…I can’t even describe it…not framed and hanging on the walls, but painted on, which adds a lightheartedness to the walk from fore to aft. Thank God for this walkway! Without it it would take forever to get from each side of the ship. You can go down the back stairs from the theatre in the forward part of the ship, and emerge minutes later at the Aqua Theatre on the aft. It’s like magic to the guests.

So far this week I have hosted trivia contests, karaoke, wii events, worn an afro and Elton John’s cast off sun glasses for a 70s dance, got guests dancing at a 50s/60s music dance, helped teach country music line dances, (don’t ask!), seen Kung Fu Panda 2 in 3D, partied with my castmates in the Helipad Crew Bar, and one big surprise….met one of the sax players, who is also a former Marine…and a former Marine Band member…we both know the same people from the Military School of Music in Little Creek, Virginia! The funniest part…his Master Gunnery Sergeant at the school was my PFC roommate back in 91 when I was there!

I have decided that karaoke and alcohol are a deadly combination, but capable of producing a LOT of humor. Hosting that event the other night was a trip! The special surprise was an Italian woman who could barely speak English who launched into Bette Davis Eyes and was AMAZING! She sounded better than the original recording! It was also a welcome relief…need I say more? But everyone had a good time, and I have to admit, so did I