I had the privilege to go on a cruise around New Zealand on board the beautiful Golden Princess for two weeks mid-January, with my husband. We met people from nearly every continent, of nearly all ages and ate way too much. The range of activities was exhausting but unfortunately, they had to cancel the over-80’s bungee jumping due to bad weather. They had it the best, though. All they had to do to get free drinks was to bring along both parents. I heard that not many took up the offer.
While onboard, I learned about two gemstones I had never heard of Tanzanite and Ammonite. Unfortunately for my wallet and my husband, I have fallen in love with Ammonite. It is the fossilized shell of an Ammonite shellfish and the coloured form is only found in a small area of Alberta, Canada. Korite Ammonite is mined in such a way that once the fossil is removed, the layers of soil are replaced in the exact order they were removed to achieve the least amount of disturbance to the environment. It has the most beautiful array of colours – blue, green, red, orange and yellow. Each piece is unique and no two are the same so it is extremely difficult to match for a set of earrings and a pendant.
The reason I mention this amazing stone is that it reminds me of the people I met on board. We were all different colours, ages, backgrounds and yet we could sit at a table full of strangers and have a great chat.
Each one of us is beautiful in our own way. The way we speak, the clothes we wear and the culture we bring to a conversation adds a spice that is unique to us. But when we are mixed together, like the Ammonite gemstone, something special happens. The colour and diversity become breath-taking.
So, what was better than the fantastic food, service, and entertainment? The people.
That reminded me of some points I thought I would share.
-Widen out in your group of friends to include those who may be a bit shy or different.
-Take the time to talk to those in wheelchairs. They don’t want your sympathy but they may need your help pushing the elevator button. My husband had a great chat with a young man in a wheelchair and with his family. Their self-sacrificing love reminds me of the song “He ain’t Heavy, He’s my brother.”
-Just because it has been offered to you, doesn’t mean you have to take it. It was a bad time to maintain a diet and it put my self-control to the test. However, the long-term side effects helped me resist most of the times. For every extra dessert, I knew I had to do just that bit more exercise to get rid of it.
Cruising is a fantastic way to have a holiday. If you want to get the most out of it, get involved with everything you can. Be an Ammonite. Don’t stick to one colour but enjoy the whole rainbow.
J.L. Higgs
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