Well Buna..... Epilogue

 Epilogue - a section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment on or a conclusion to what has happened.

Kerry and Debbie are home after our " American Tour."

We flew from Houston Hobby, and the more I fly from Hobby, the more I like it......to Pittsburgh. Attended April's graduation,  got on the Alaskan Airlines about 3 hours after she " walked" flew 5 hours across America to Seattle. 

Got on a damn boat the next day to Alaska. 

Got back Sunday, went to the kid's townhouse, had REAL Chinese food, then got on the bird Monday flew Seattle to Denver to Houston.....7 hours in total. 

We are whipped. 

Yes, Alaska is gorgeous.  It was our second time. 

Trouble is every time we go to Alaska, a Father dies. My dad, W. E. " Bill" Thomas passed our first time there and we came home early. This time, St. Debbie's father Commander John Britain US Navy Retired,( I've married into an upper crust of folks. The officer class for one, going back to St. Deb's great-great-grandfather who was an actual General in the Confederate Army. John C. Moore, look him up.) passed 2 days before we left, but he had been very ill and we knew it was coming. His memorial service is in June.

Sorry folks, I am not a cruise person, the idea of going on a trip with 4000 of my closest friends, is well, ain't my idea of having a good time. I actually enjoyed talking to the Asian/African workers on the ship than the Yankees which populated the ship. Especially those from the Philippines. Ask where they are from and about their family and we are off and running. Asians are more family oriented than us. But,  you must remember, I worked as a missionary for a while and was taught how to approach people, (the Mormons do a good job teaching their missionaries how to talk to folks they just met...) Yes, I've had several different lives.....

The food was well, okay. I did enjoy the breakfasts, as you could fix "fake" Full English/Scottish/ Ulster Breakfast with bangers, English bacon, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, fried eggs, tatties, even had H&P Sauce,but not Black Pudding, or Haggis, or White Pudding....But the rest of the buffet, well, just too bland. I like some heat to my food. 

We wound up eating at the fancy sit-down dinner and as I have had written, had a rare steak every night....Make Kerry Don Thomas happy? Give him cow to eat. 

Alaska is gorgeous. I'll give you that, and I enjoyed sitting on the balcony as we sailed up the fjords and straits.  

But being on a boat and the towns along the coast, well, they are touristy. But then again, Kerry and St. Debbie wind up in oddball places when we travel. On a sheep farm in the Yorkshire Dales.....Walking around the West Bank of Palestine and we're not supposed to do so....Walking in Protestant Derry in the hotbed of the " Troubles of Northern Ireland." Places tourists generally do not go.  

I don't know, just not my " thing." 

I like flying to my destination, renting a car and going wherever I want. 

April, AKA Yu Zhou is already talking about us traveling on a Mediterranean cruise....I would like to see Northern Italy....Croatia.....Heck, I'd like to sail from New York to Southampton,  England on the Queen Mary, wear a tux every night for dinner. Rent a car and tour Southern England....Kerry and St. Debbie love the UK...But I am afraid the Queen Mary is a wee bit too rich for me. 

Yes, going to write on events in Buna, Jasper County while we are gone in the next couple of days.....Maybe later today....Depends on my mood....