Craig - I'm really glad that your family is understanding and that you and your wife will continue with your plans. I believe that the people that your parents used to be before disease robbed them of their minds would have wanted you to do exactly what you are doing.

Well, now I think I feel comfortable here to explain exactly about my family trip in September. When my dear Grandma died last year, my brother was in Iraq and the military wouldn't let him come home. Since our mom died 4 years ago and we do not speak to our Dad (his dad my step-dad), we are pretty much all the family left. My mom was an only child, so there are no aunts / uncles / cousins.

So, since Grandma's wish had been to be sprinkled at Lake Tahoe where Grandpa was when he died, we planned a trip. I know that my Grandma's hand was in the details because a direct flight into Reno was very expensive, but we could save a ton of money flying into San Francisco. My Grandma loved to travel and had literally traveled all over the world.

So, we flew to SF and met my brother. We all spent a wonderful week of travels visiting Alcatraz, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Reno, Lake Tahoe, the Donner Memorial, etc. The last day we were there, we went to Lake Tahoe and left Grandma at home with Grandpa in that most gorgeous of all lakes. We all took turns dumping a little ash - even my boys. I think she would have loved it.

When my DH and I learned about Grandma and Grandpa's final wishes, we thought it to be brilliant. We don't ever want anyone to feel like they have to visit us in a cemetery. However, once we are gone, feel free to come out to Lake Tahoe in the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains and enjoy the scenery because we will be there, too.

Craig,
How great this thread has been!! I am sorry that your parents are declining, but such is life...
you know that all would understand if you were seriously ill and couldn't make it...this trip is for your health...your family seems to understand.

And I agree wholeheartedly with your philosophy...I don't even want a wake, but I'm sure my family would. But cremation is my choice...sprinkle me in Hawaii and the North Woods, my two favorite places...

Hope you and your DW have a wonderful trip!!

It's a good thing your cruise isn't on the Splendor, only because I imagine that won't be out to sea anytime soon. Reports are they might have to dry dock it, since cruises normally book up months in advance, I can only imagine the re-booking nightmare that cruise line is going through.

It is docking now and they say it might take 2 -3 hours to get it all docked, and 4 - 5 hours to disembark. 4,500 passengers not to mention crews, all carrying their own luggage. 12 decks with NO working elevator. I wonder how they are handling people in power chairs.

Yeah, they are getting a refund and free cruise, would that be enough for me? sure, as long as the free cruise wasn't the cheap one, I want balcony and first class airfare.

Oh, and most of them are being bussed back to Long Beach which is a 2 hour bus ride, how many busses will that take, 4,500 people? yikes.

What a nightmare, Earl...UGHHHHHH!!!!

The local news said they are booking up every available hotel room, plane seat, bus seat and so forth to try to accomodate these weary folks once they get them off that nasty boat.

A free cruise, and a refund wouldnt be enough to satisfy me after days of eating spam, non flushing toilets, and being trapped in the dark with 4.499 other folks. nope, not me. I would need more kissing up than that.

I've always been afraid of deep water, and therefore afraid of boats...which drives DH crazy when he needs a spotter on the ski boat

Glad that the ship got into port without any further mishap...I felt especially bad for the bride/groom that was meeting their guests in Puerto Viarta...the couple didn't make it to their own wedding, while many of the guests flew in

When my husband died two years ago I spent the last 12 days in his hospital room. It happened there was an extra bed there against the wall, as if waiting for me. I ate food brought from the dining room when he ate. I fed him. He
was conscious and talking, but finally I had to go home to get some stuff to take him to a hospice, as the hospital was throwing him out for cost reasons.

When I was told he had died, I did not go back to see the body, nor did we have any memorial service, since he knew few people in this town, having
been homebound most of the last years. His ashes are still at my son's house as I cannot bear to "do something with them" and am busy on the downward slope myself.

I immediately started thinking of him as gone to Heaven. As a matter of fact he visited for a few seconds on his way, walking right through me to show me how great he felt now, two hours after his death.

I mourn all the time and want very much to be with him, but the funeral would have been utterly pointless, considering we have no friends here and our friends in Seattle dropped us when we decided to follow the Christian faith. My son would come, of course, being here in town. But a funeral would be pointless, as I said.

You must be gone on your vacation by the time I write this. Irv and I spent many times in Hawaii, had a condo there.

Mariel

@mariel....Can I be your friend? I may not live next door, but I am a good message board buddy. You still sound as if the winds have not returned to your sails. Have you considered asking your MD for a bit of help to get over the hump? Just needed to hug you!

Hi Guys! We're back from the cruise and it was wonderful well exceeding my wife's wildest expectations. Yes, I paid and am still paying the price but it is all good. I hope to post more once I recuperate with details and some pictures. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

It's good to hear you had a wonderful time and I look forward to seeing your photos.