Hi Wanda, it\u2019s Connie. Yeah, I\u2019m so-so. Thanks for asking. Are you still teaching American History? Great. Great.<\/p>\n
Well, I won\u2019t deny it. It\u2019s been hard since he passed, not easy after being together 27 years. I can\u2019t believe it either. You remember our wedding in 2023, don\u2019t you? All these years later, I\u2019m trying to find myself again. But you know me, I\u2019m a survivor, taking it day by day. Yes, I\u2019m in pretty good shape financially, despite squabbling with the kids over his estate. Better than most widows starting over, I suppose. But I feel I can tell you, Wanda, I\u2019m not happy. I\u2018m like a zombie. You know what I mean? Empty inside without him.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been thinking. Maybe it\u2019s time for me to get away for a while, maybe take a long trip. Be with new people.<\/p>\n
Did you happen to see that ad a while back about what they called \u201ca trip of a lifetime\u201d? Well, I followed up on it, and girlfriend, I\u2019m thinking of taking it. Sounds like just what I need.<\/p>\n
But this cruise won\u2019t be like anything I ever heard of. Maybe you have. It seems fabulous, but there are things I\u2019m not sure about. There will be no announced destinations and no set return date. I\u2019ll explain in a minute. And we can\u2019t be only passengers, we must become part of the ship family.<\/p>\n
Here is how it all began for me. After seeing the ad, I had a teleconference with The Captain. He said he believes every member of his family should live their own life aboard the new ship he\u2019s building, called the NS Saudade<\/em>. It will sail next spring, and it can go anywhere for as long as he wants. That\u2019s because \u2013 and I\u2019m the first to admit, I don\u2019t understand this stuff \u2013 it will have a ColdFusion nuclear engine, solar panels, a wind turbine, and electronic sails. It\u2019ll be able to sail for years without refueling. Because it can make its own food and clothing and parts, it won\u2019t need to come to port at all. He told me it will even have its own little winery and brewery.<\/p>\n The Captain\u2019s name? Gee, Wanda, I don\u2019t know yet. The lady on the teleconference just introduced him to me as The Captain.<\/p>\n Anyway, The Captain told me, that before he starts his selection process, all potential family members must attend an intensive 30-day evaluation. Because we\u2019ll be together aboard the ship for so long, he wants us by ourselves someplace he\u2018s going to pick, away from the rest of the world, so he can see if we fit in together. Once we set sail, he can\u2019t promise when we will return to port, any port.<\/p>\n So then I went to several live meetings, and Wanda, I must say everyone I met seem like good people, ready and willing to commit. We\u2019ve been told folks from all over the world will join us. Everyone is trying hard to fit in. We all want to be a part of his family.<\/p>\n The Captain himself came and spoke at our last meeting. He\u2019s quite charming. After his first mate described wonderful things they\u2019re installing in the Saudade<\/em> \u2013 including the largest computer ever put in a ship \u2013 The Captain said he has ordered the cruise director to send us something he called the family creed. We are to keep its contents secret. I guess it\u2019ll contain some simple beliefs, and maybe some do\u2019s and don\u2019t\u2019s while on the cruise. It shouldn\u2019t be much, although he told us flat out, if anyone doesn\u2019t believe in the creed, then let staff know right away. The non-believer will be removed from the list The Captain selects from to invite his chosen to the 30-day evaluation.<\/p>\n Because of the huge investment, he says my commitment to the family must be as great as its commitment to me. He told me personally he hopes I qualify. The ship, he says, will have everything I\u2019ll need, and his family will provide anything I want. But he warned me, not everyone is right for the family, and the family is not right for everyone. The evaluation should show him which siblings fit into his one united family. Each of us must make a commitment to the family before they\u2019re allowed to board, but he didn\u2019t tell us yet what he\u2019s going to ask from us.<\/p>\n What? No, I haven\u2019t looked into the finances of his operations. I wouldn\u2019t even know where to start. Would you? I mean, I\u2019m no accountant. All I can do is see what I see. The meetings I\u2019ve attended were in some pretty fine hotels, and the shipyard videos of Saudade<\/em> were awesome.<\/p>\n The Captain whispered to me after the last meeting, that if I am chosen, as a special gift, he might let me board the ship and have a private look around, maybe even select my own room, although for security reasons, his staff may decide who will live where.<\/p>\n Listen, I know what you\u2019re saying, Wanda. I would be giving him a lot of credit. It does require me to trust him. I won\u2019t argue with you about that. It could be risky. It will cost me a lot of money and take a lot of time.<\/p>\n Yes, you\u2019re right, it could be a scam. I hear you, girl. But despite all that, I don\u2019t think so. The Captain seems so caring and his people so considerate that I\u2019m already a believer. And so are most others from the meetings. I feel us forming a bond. And, Wanda, I will let you in on a little secret. I think The Captain has his eye on me.<\/p>\n What? Have I heard of who? No, who was Jim Jones?<\/p>\n Wow, what a story. Sounds crazy.<\/p>\n But I\u2019m not worried. That was a long time ago. Couldn\u2019t happen nowadays. I\u2019ll be sure to let you know how it goes, okay?<\/p>\n Bye.<\/p>\n