This was the day I had been anticipating. A couple of weeks ago I had this wild idea, while discussing having a prayer meeting at sea with other board members. Dave and I eloped five years ago, and had a civil ceremony just the two of us. Wouldn't it be romantic if we had a ceremony, surrounded by some family members and friends, at sea, even more so since we were celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary on this cruise? I asked Mark (who is a Wesleyan minister), if he would mind incorporating a brief blessing for our marriage in the service he had so kindly accepted to conduct for those of us who expressed a desire to have a briefl Sunday morning service. I hoped I was not imposing on his vacation, and 25th wedding anniversary cruise as well. Mark and Jane supported my idea, and made me feel they were as excited about it as I was. On Sunday, May 8, 2005, in the company of some dear new friends, and our daughters Millicent and Amanda, we had the most beautiful ceremony any bride and groom would want. Our daughters, the maids of honor, read a warm and loving poem,and Jane sang "Amazing Grace", we shared a most precious time that Sunday morning, and we all felt the blessings of love and friendship. I am indebted to Mark and Jane, two wonderful, kind and loving people, who made us happier than they know, and our second Glory cruise unforgetable. Thank you!

After the service we had breakfast at the Platinum Dinning Room. Once breakfast was over, we each went our separate ways to get ready for Key West.

We did not book an excursion at Key West, since we had been there before (sorry Amanda!), we decided to walk on our own. My goal was to find "Five Brother's Grocery Store" where I hoped to buy some Cuban stuff, and most importantly, my ultimate quest: "Cuban Sandwhiches", Millicent wanted her photo taken in front of the same "Millie" store she remebered from her last visit to Key West, it was still there, and she has her 2005 "Millie store" photo. We walked and we did some shopping (Millicent and Amanda). Amanda bought sunglasses from a street vendor, Millicent bought a pair of Playboy flip-flops, WITHOUT trying them or looking at the size first, when she went to wear them, she realized they were a size too small, the people in the store would not take them back or even exchange them. Be careful out there, stick to the Carnival recommended stores, and that was even in the USA!

We walked it seemed forever, block after block, looking for Five Brother's Grocery Store, finally we found it, only IT WAS CLOSED ON SUNDAYS! So much for internet research. I felt defeated, some folks stopped by riding one of those golf carts, as we sat exhausted on a bench outside the store, and gave us the number for a local cab company and the address for another place where we might get Cuban Sandwhiches. We found this place, only it was not a store, but a store front, within a laundr-o-mat, but the sandwhiches were great and so was the Cuban coffee. Since we felt rested, we decided to walk back, we made it, but again were exhausted and hot.

Dave had a beer at Sloppy Joe's, and we waved at the camera just in case someone was watching, we almost went up to the nude bar "Garden of Eden" above the "Bull & Whistle" , but decided against it. We witnessed as a street woman stole a tourist's bag, after she laid it down to take a picture of the "golden-statue-like guy", and Dave and I had our portrait done by a street artist (Dave big muscles, Clara big boobs!).