Day 1 - Gerry insisted we unpack before we do anything else. Later we met with the activities director and got our schedule for lessons and games. She advised us that the bridge room was small and there was a tug of war for tables She also said we would be lucky if we got any bridge players the first day as most passengers preferred to get the feel of the ship on that day.

Day 2 - Immediately after breakfast, we went to the bridge room to set up for the lesson. Gerry had prepared wonderful lessons and encouraged me to read them over. She wanted me to be prepared. Prior to the cruise, I had asked my broker if Gerry could do the lessons and I direct. The reply was no. I was the one the broker had hired and I was the one who would have to do the lessons and the directing. Gerry was disappointed but being the trooper she is accepted the position on helper. And naturally, she was worried about my lack of experience in the teaching area. She had worked so hard to make the lessons perfect.

Our instructions were that the lessons were to be educational but we should keep in mind it was more important that they be edu-taining. People take cruises to have fun. I love that edu-tainment philosophy and was determined to "wow" anybody and everybody. Our first lesson was on Rule of 11. We felt that would be something everyone could relate to and would give us a chance to evaluate the abilities of the students. 22 people showed up for the lesson. 22 people loved the lesson and left the room commenting how much they enjoyed it and how much they felt they had gained from it. Over the First hurdle. It was obvious Gerry was yearning to teach.

On to lunch at the Windjammer buffet and back to the room for the game. 25 players participated in the game and all enjoyed. Some had arrived determined to play social bridge. Not having enough social bridge players for a game, and wanting to be sure all bridge players enjoyed the bridge aspect of the cruise, I told them we were offering "social duplicate" and they might like to try that. I announced the wide range in differences of abilities to the duplicate players and asked for their consideration of the new players. Everything went very well and the new players were hooked; they never missed a game. Over the Second hurdle.

The broker had sent us a "Manual for Success". We were to read it and follow all guidelines for the cruise. It stated in several places that a Sixth Star Representative was an ambassabor for both Sixth Star and the cruise line. One of the guidelines was that when we were in the dining room or when we associated in any way with other passengers we were to act as host and be good representatives. We looked forward to that position the first night in the dining room as we were escorted to a large table with seating for 10. We anxiously waited for our fellow passengers. We waited, and waited----, and waited.-------. No one else came to the table that night nor did anyone sit at our table during the entire crusie. So much for ambassadorships!

Day 2 - I woke up eager for the day to begin. When I said "good morning" to Gerry , no words came out. I couldn't say a thing. I had laryngitis! I've never had laryngitiis before in my entire life!. But, all I could utter when I tried to speak were squeaks. no words would come out. Gerry, who had been making sure I didn't carry too much weight, now had the task of interpreting my whispered.wishes, the first of which was that she would do the lesson. Gerry of course was estatic.

She didn't want me to know, but she was thrilled to be giving "her" lesson. She was of course, superb. Everyone loved her. Again, they left the room saying how much they enjoyed the lesson and how much they had gained.

While Gerry was giving the lesson, a little French woman, Arlett Rosenthal insisted that a hot rum toddy would fix me right up and she was going to see that I get one. She went to the closest bar and finding it closed. She then proceeded to check every bar on the ship until she found one that was open. She returned triumphantly with my hot toddy and a cup of hot tea. She told me not to worry about drinking it right down as everyone on the ship was misstepping at times and no one would notice if wasn't particularly steady of foot.

By this time, we realized that we had to guard our table and chairs or they disappeared. From this time forward, one of us stayed in the room between the lesson and the game to be sure we had the tables we needed for the game. The game on Day 2 attracted 25 players and was uneventful.

The next 6 days were "port" days. We visited Labadee, the cruise line private island; Samana, Dominican Republic; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Basseterre, St Kitts; St John's , Antiqua; and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

This is the time I should promote future episodes by telling you they will be filled with hot torrid love scenes and lots of action and violence. Sorry.. Nothing like that happened. But several amusing things did.

More episodes later, if I get my computer moved; if I get the new service hooked up; and if I can find an hour or so to write each episode.