1. It’s nice to sit on the 9th floor of the ship, behind beautiful big windows, after eating brisket and fried chicken and orange ginger pork and smoked turkey and mashed potatoes and sliced carrots and double chocolate cupcakes and bowls and bowls of ice cream…when it’s a cold and drizzly day in Alaska.
2. Ohmagoodness, I wish I had an accent – Australian or English or some kind of Russian Natasha-esque. However…women who are 70+ years old with very southern accents are hilarious when they have no filter and say things like, “Ah need to teen-kul buht ah don’t wanna puhl mah puh-ants down cuz ih soh cohld!” In front of an entahr, and I do mean ENTIRE train car of cruise passengers who could all hear her. Translation: “I need to tinkle but I don’t want to pull my pants down because it is so cold!” Natasha vood nevah zay zuch a ting like daht.
3. It is much better to see orcas in their natural habitat rather than at Sea World. I love Sea World, but this was thrill on another level.
4. Fresh air should never be taken for granted.
5. When the only access to the outside world of entertainment and information is MSNBC, FoxNews, or BBC, the ship’s safety information, live video feed of the front of the boat, and shopping channels are like heaven on earth.
6. Never underestimate the glorious beauty of living in small town USA free from tourists with cruise ship id’s hanging around their necks.
7. Mid afternoon. Sam is napping in the room. I am sitting on the deck watching planes and helicopters and ferrys and catamarans take off when lo and behold Sammy the seal appears just beneath deck 3 to say hello. This is a moment that is so worth using the words “lo and behold.”

8. Pretty incredible experience to sit at a breakfast table with Pete and Helen Jane from Michigan and be honored with prayer for Sam spoken by Pete.
9. Alaska snowless cold is a little easier to take than Kansas snowless cold, with the exception of a blanket and a fireplace on a couch that is permanently molded to the shape of my behind.
10. Clearly, I do not know what “formal attire” or “smart casual” means. Fleece and flannel. THIS, I understand.