The Vacation Change And The Car-Cruise Curse Is Real
After returning from a week of vacation, I’ve realized a few things. This was my first real vacation in 9 years, and I was really excited! Quite honestly, I didn’t have the funds to go, but I desperately needed some time off. One of my best friends and I went on the Monsters of Rock Cruise. It’s a cruise featuring about 40 bands, mostly rock bands from the 1980’s. Firehouse, Slaughter, Winger, Extreme and more were performing. I went on the first MORC in 2012. The last rock cruise I took was 9 years ago and it was Motorhead’s Motorboat. I’ve changed a LOT since then.
My expectations for this vacation were high. Music has been a huge part of my life since I was 13. Going to concerts and seeing bands live is something I’ve done since 1984. I’m always the girl that meets lots of bands and gets lots of pictures. This trip enlightened me to the ‘vacation change’. I’m not sure if this is a real thing. I didn’t Google it, however, for me it’s a real occurrence.
My friend Kelly and I had a great time together! We did our own thing on the ship, and quite honestly, we were happy with that. Seeing lots of bands was our plan, but we quickly realized that we were more about just relaxing in the pool and napping when we wanted. The old me would have been all over the ship, seeing almost every band, and standing in line for pictures with rock stars. This year, I just didn’t care about all that. It was a bit shocking to me! I’m not sure if it’s all the time I spent alone during COVID and during my neck surgeries, dealing with breast cancer, or dealing with my autoimmune issues, but I just had no desire to rock-and-roll all night and party every day. In addition, I’ve put on a lot of weight, so my confidence isn’t stellar.
Going out lots and drinking was something I did into my late 40’s. I had no idea I had changed! Truth told, I could have saved a few thousand dollars, and we could have just gone on a regular cruise and been happy. That said, we enjoyed our time together and we met some awesome people from all over. And we were able to relax for the first time in a long time, so it was worth it. I just don’t have any wild stories or pictures of rock stars, which I’ve always had in the past. I’m not more mature, and I’m not too old, but I realized on this trip I’ve changed as a person. It’s kinda weird to comprehend. I’m not the same person I was on my last rock cruise 9 years ago. Very odd to deal with.
The Car-Cruise Curse
I’m not sure this is a thing either, but it’s a real thing for me. The first Motorhead Motorboat I went on was in 2014. I drove from Columbia, S.C. to Atlanta, where my friend Cyndi lives, and we flew to Miami for the cruise from there. After being delayed 8 hours in the Miami airport waiting for a flight home, we decided flying again was out. Once we got to Atlanta, I stayed at Cyndi’s and left for Columbia the next day. On my way home, my old Honda Accord starting overheating. I’d pull over, let it cool down, and hit the road again. Long story short, my car broke down in a tiny Georgia town. Few things were open since it was a Sunday, so I ended up spending 11 hours in a convenience store parking lot until my mom came to pick me up.
My car had to be towed from Georgia to Columbia. The mechanic looking at the car said the engine was blown. It’d be $3000 to fix the car, which was only worth $1500. I scrapped the car.
Our second Motorboat trip we drove to Miami. We were up all night the final evening of the cruise, got in the car, and drove to Atlanta. I decided to keep driving straight to Columbia, as really bad weather was coming. Flooding and heavy rain was expected, and I wanted to get home. Luckily, my car didn’t break down, but I did continue driving through some horrible weather.
Not Again With The Curse
This trip, Kelly and I drove from Miami to Gastonia. After driving 12 hours, we crashed. My car was sitting in the parking lot the week we were gone. I get up Friday morning, planning on going to the grocery store. I get to my car and the key fab isn’t opening the car. UGH! I took the key out, opened the door, and the car wouldn’t crank. I was thinking I had a dead battery.
After two tow truck guys checked out my car, they figured out it was my alternator and my battery. WHAT?! The car is pretty new, 2021, so this was a shocker. I had to have the car towed to a local mechanic. $1100 for a new battery, alternator, and belt. After a pricey vacation, this is NOT what I needed.
This is my car-cruise curse. Two cars have died after I’ve gone on a cruise. So, no more sailing for me! Not the best way to end a vacation.
