Day 10 was the first day of three days at sea leading up to our return to Port Liberty.  It was an unusual day in that nothing unusual happened. 

Our morning class was attended by 25 players; the game also attracted 25 players. One of the players approached me after class and introduced himself as a 35 year veteran of cruise directing. That surprised me as he and his wife had not missed a lesson. They told me how much they were enjoying the bridge on the cruise. If there had been a “perfect attendance” award, they would have received one. Actually, at least 20 players had perfect attendance.

Gerry and I dabbled in the night life of the ship, going to the lounges for the entertainment of the evening. Each night of the cruise featured music from a particular decade or two. We had listened to some of the “70’s” music on “70’s night. Very good! But this night was music of the 50’s and 60’s. We found our way to the lounge and took our seats where we had a strategic view of the room. At the appointed hour the performance began. I don’t have to name the songs. Think of your favorites, that’s what we listened to. Oh my, this was music as music was meant to be. Everyone in the room knew the words. The beat was exhilarating! The standing room only crowd was swaying, dancing, clapping, and smiling, smiling, smiling. When the other events let out for the evening the crowd that filtered through danced and sang and smiled, smiled, smiled as they made their way past us, some finding a rare open spot to stand and enjoy the music. This music made you happy, made you want to dance and sing and clap and smile. Or maybe, I’m just showing my age. Naw!

Day 11 proved to be the day for Gerry and I to get even with one another. The lesson went well with 31 attendees and the game attracted 30. Gerry, who had worn two “seasickness” wrist bands for the entire trip and had them on today, mentioned she was feeling a little upset. About halfway through the lesson, I noticed Gerry was missing. I assumed she had returned to the room but was surprised she hadn’t said anything before she left. She returned to the bridge room just before the end of the lesson looking somewhat wan. She told me she was feeling worse and had decided to seek a chair outside the bridge room which had a wall of windows. Looking at the sea through the windows had increased Gerry’s discomfort. She had settled into a chair and promptly fallen asleep.

We decided she had better not try to attend the game that afternoon. She should stay in the stateroom and recuperate. She had the phone number of the bridge room if she needed me for anything. After the game, I returned to the stateroom to find Gerry just waking up. She was upset with herself. She had intended to come to the bridge room a half hour before the game was over to help wrap things up and carry supplies back to the stateroom.

Gerry’s condition continued to deteriorate. We decided to skip dinner in the dining room. She couldn’t eat a thing. I grabbed a quick bite at the Windjammer café and hurried back to the room. 

Gerry’s getting even part: We missed a formal dinner at the beginning of the trip because of my well being, or lack thereof. The dinner we were missing tonight was another formal dinner. Gerry remarked this was “pay back”. Cute that she could joke about it when I knew how bad she was feeling. 

My “get even” situation? Now I had the opportunity to take care of Gerry. 

I looked for information on the medical facilities in the “Daily Compass”, the newsletter printed each day and provided to all passengers. The Doctor and pharmacy closed at 7:00PM. I asked Gerry is she wanted to see the Doctor before the Medical facility closed. She said no, she just wanted to sit still for a while. About 6:30, Gerry asked me to find her some Dramamine. I hustled to the pharmacy where I told the friendly nurse Gerry’s story. She provided me with seasickness pills. Gerry tried to take the pills but couldn’t keep them down. She was becoming violently ill. “Gerry do you want to see the Doctor?” “No, just find me more seasickness pills.”

By now the pharmacy was closed so I hustled to the Customer Service desk to inquire where one might find seasickness pills at this hour. The attendant told me that was a very difficult problem then smiled as he handed them over the counter to me. Apparently Gerry isn’t the only one who ever suffered from seasickness on a cruise. The pills are readily available all over the ship.

Back in the room, Gerry still couldn’t get the pills to stay down and the situation was becoming dire. You’ve heard of worshipping at the foot of the great white throne? Well, Gerry was absolutely prone! I asked her a couple of more times, “Gerry, why don’t we call the doctor?” “No.” She was getting so bad that it was hard to understand what she was saying. “That’s it! She is going to see the doctor!” I pretended I heard her say yes and called 911.“Bring her to the Medical Facility.” “I can’t. She can’t walk.” “We’ll send someone up right away.”

Within 5 minutes a nurse and two staffers with a wheelchair were at our door. The nurse took over. She checked Gerry’s vital signs and instructed the attendants to get her in the wheelchair and get her to the medical facility. A doctor saw her immediately and provided instant treatment. We were in the medical center for an hour and a half during which time Gerry got the doctor’s full attention. Finally, he was satisfied that she was out of danger and Gerry was wheeled back to our room. Her few words of conversation were that I’d better find someone else to accompany me on my next cruise. Not words I wanted to hear, but after what she had just been through, understandable words.

The doctor said she would sleep when she got back to the room, and sleep she did, as soon as her head hit the pillow.