Day 1 - Seeing Green

My first real day at sea has been one that I hope I can forget. The people are great, the food is edible, the boat is fabulous in a retro 50's sort of way, but it is all that I can do to not get sick all over the passengers.

It all started the moment I set foot on the boat. It really wasn't moving very much, being tied to the dock, but I could feel each and every one of the minute adjustments the boat made with the passing waves. I think the rain that poured down all day had something to do with it. Either way, I was feeling the motion of the ocean.

At first I thought I would overcome the minor shifts with a carefully regimented plan of Dramamine, ginger root, wrist bands, and distractions. Alas, the sea is greater than I, and I succumbed to the toilet bowl, Mr. T, my new best friend.

Mr. T and I met on several occasions the first day, five to be exact. We were beginning to form a real relationship or,"fune magic" as they like to say in this place. "Fune magic" literally means, "boat magic," but it refers mostly to the love connections made while out in the open water.
After a couple visits to Mr. T, I was looking pretty pale, a fact which everyone noticed. Actually, the amazing thing to me is though NO ONE ELSE was looking even a little bit off-color, everyone had advice to share.

Here are my favorites, in no particular order:

• Did you take motion sickness pills? You really should. Oh, you are? Do they work? Oh, ya, I guess not.
• Don't eat or drink anything, or it will slosh around in your stomach.
• You should eat a lot, so you don't get dry heaves.
• You should stay on the upper deck, where there is the least amount of motion.
• You should go down to the bottom deck, where there is the least amount of motion.
• You should stay in your room and not move a lot.
• You should go up to the top deck and get some fresh air.
• You should drink alcohol because the alcohol will offset the queasiness you feel now.
• You should eat ice cream and chocolate. It worked for me.

The thing I love most about these statements is how nearly every single piece was later contradicted by someone else. Also, I loved when people would come up to me and while asking how I am, they would but their arm around me and shake me a bit in an affectionate way. It was sweet, really, but mostly, their gentle caresses left me in a worse state. Sigh...whatt's a girl to do?

So tonight, before bed, I am putting in an order for some sea legs. I hear that I will get them soon. Let's hoping...