Have you ever really wondered about the people who are around you? The ones you pass by everyday or interact with for a brief time then they just slip away? I have been thinking about them lately, the ones that have been there and then slip off into the dark... and you're left with just the memories of them.</div><div> </div><div>A lot has happened since my last post. There are things that have happened that I'm not ready to speak about in a public way yet. The people who know, know and when the time comes more will know... and don't worry everyone will know eventually. But due to these unforseen things happening I was blessed to go on a cruise through Panama Canal with my mum and grandma. Well lets just say that the majority of the passenger were more *ahem* mature or on their honeymoons so I was definately in the minority. So that left the crew to "hang out" with... which was more like brief conversations.</div><div> </div><div>These briefs conversations were like lifesavers on this trip and they gave me insight into people that I have never would have been able to talk to. One guy talked about how his shifts went from 11:30 am to Midnight every day... Yes he got 2 hour long breaks but he didn't get a day off... And I don't thik they get vacation time like we do. Another one talked about how he wanted to finish university but wasn't able to... Others talked about their families, their countries, their homes... A guy talked about how he spoke english well enough to be on a ship but his wife didn't so for 6 months out of the year they were apart. And this guy was from Macedonia so it's not like you can get off ship and visit for a few hours (and I'll mention that we are both the same age). 6 months was the shortest contract I heard of... some were up to 10 months onboard. Crazy huh? </div><div> </div><div>Stories are what keep us together and this is what I realized on this trip. Everyone has one and we are all linked some how. I am blessed.... we all are. We didn't have bombs being dropped on us when we were 13 or had to work every day for 3 years. I realy don't like to say this about a cruise but it changed my perspective about the way I look around me... it made me want to get to know people more than just the basics. As corny as it is I really do miss the people I met on the ship... I do believe there off the coast of Cuba right now... and I wish we could talk again. </div><div> </div><div>There is so much more than what we see... than what we think. For one day on this cruise I felt normal.... for the first time since university... normal. And you never really know how much you miss normal until you don't have it any more. My heart felt light. </div><div> </div><div>There might be big changes coming soon... or their might be nothing. Also 2012 just might be another year of me going to a lot of weddings... Already know of 2 that are happening... I'll keep my fingers crossed for a date for either of those.</