bachelorette party cruise

while in southern florida, i got a text from my former office-mate, jen saying that she would be passing through tampa within the week!  she was on a trip with a score of other fine ladies for her bachelorette party!  i timed it so i could see her in the few hours she had available between flying into tampa and cruising off to mexico.

i met up with jen and her friends alicia, erin, and karen for drinks at the hooters, right next to the tampa port authority.  we could even see the back end of the cruise ship from where we were sitting.

i found out that erin and karen are from the cocoa beach area which was actually one of my next destinations.  we hoped to meet up again sometime after they are back from their cruise.

i'd forgotten how much i missed jen, and how well we did sharing an office.  she briefed me on some current STV life which felt so near and far to me at the same time.  she also gave me the updates on her wedding planning.  i plan to attend her wedding in philly in may.  it will be beautiful.  that's probably the next time i'll see her.

jen and her friends left to board, and i walked around gazing up at the huge cruise ship.

i've never been on a cruise before.   wow they are so big.

it has a water slide at the top!  whatever floats your boat, i guess - including a pool.

my own cruise of the day would be in my van heading east toward the atlantic coast.  sisters here i come!...