THE RUSSELLS

One Friday night, just as we had ordered our dessert – Key Lime Pie – we had a pleasant surprise.  One of the treats of cruising is the opportunity to meet new people.  The couple that normally sat at the table-for-two next to ours did not come to dinner, so the table was vacant.  Joni and I were simply enjoying a quiet romantic together, when Joni looked up and saw a “senior” couple, Jim and Pat Russell from Cleveland, walking in our direction.

Seeing the empty table next to ours, Pat says to Jim, “It’s K.C. and Joni. It looks like we could sit here.”

We had met the Russells on the dance floor.  Jim was 82 yrs. old, and Pat was quick to tell us that in less than two weeks, she would be an, “Octogenarian”.  They were a happy and effervescent “young” couple who loved to dance.  They told us that they take “about” 3 cruises each year!

Their unexpected arrival threw the Tides staff into a bit of disarray.  I quickly gave Eder a nod of my head indicating that all was O.K. with us.  Within just a minute, the red-jacketed Head Waiter showed up.  I finally got to see what the Head Waiter gets paid to do.  For the next few minutes he took over.  He quickly determined how to “rebalance” the loss of the invisible equilibrium that kept everything working smoothly.  He gladly listened…

The Russells explained that they had left their normal “early dining” table to go dancing!  Did you note that I said the Russells were 82 and 80 yrs. old???  Can’t you just hear that conversation?  

“Come on, Jim.  Let’s skip dessert.  The band is playing and I wanna dance...” 

“O.K., sweetheart.  Whatever you want.  What about dessert?”

“It’s no big deal.  We will just go crash the “late dining” and find us an empty table…”

When the Head Waiter determined that all that was needed was a couple of desserts he simply raised his hand.  Eder seemed to appear out of nowhere... somehow intuitively knowing to bring two Dessert Menus.   The Head Waiter confirmed the order: Two pieces of Key Lime pie.  Balance had been restored to the Tides Dining Room. 

So... Joni and I sat and visited, and laughed, and swapped dance stories, and ate Key Lime Pie with the Russells.  Truly, this is on of the joys of cruising.  Perhaps we will meet Jim and Pat again, on some cruise ship dance floor, sailing across the vastness of the Sea.