Pacifica, California Sunrise - July 27, 2011

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Sunrise

The inspiration for this poem was  someone very special to me - I last saw him in April of 2003 but it seems like it was just yesterday.  I met him within an hour after I boarded my very first

Royal Caribbean cruise in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  I had finished my novel and had gone to the

library on the Monarch of the Seas to get another book to read.  The Champagne Bar happened to be right across the way so I stepped in to take a look around.  He was the bartender there and, though I am not especially fond of champagne, he delighted in telling me that they also had excellent wines.  Being a snobby Californian, of course, I was dubious so I sat down and checked out the wine list.  It was above par - with some fine wines from California as well as

other parts of the world.  On that seven day cruise, the Champagne Bar was my favorite spot and Santos became a beloved friend.  Over the next eight years, I continued to sail frequently with Royal Caribbean, as often as possible with my Indian friend and when he would transfer ships, I would sail on the new itineraries.  He, and the other Indian crew became like family to me, as did many other crew members from all over the world.  He came to California on two occasions, once for two weeks and once for another week and became part of our family.  We even celebrated Thanksgiving though it wasn't Thanksgiving then so he would see what the celebration was like in an American home.  Of course, he'd been on the ships during Thanksgiving time but he'd never been able to be part of a U. S. family!

While he was visiting us, we would take him to Napa and the Russian River to see as many wineries as possible, since his job with Royal Caribbean evolved into that of sommelier.  He was always so thrilled with whatever he saw and did.  As a surprise, one morning at dawn, I suprised him with an early morning hot air balloon ride over the vineyards at Napa.  It was such fun to see his delight.

In 1997, I had the most exciting trip of my life when I spent ten days at the home of Santos, his wife, Lorna, his son, Nick, his mother, May, and his brother in Mumbai, India.  I was treated like visiting royalty.  Two other dear Royal Caribbean crew friends were also home at that time and they came over as well to welcome me to their country.

It was a time of feasting, laughter, amazement and delight for me.  I went with Santos' mother to Agra and marveled at the beauty of the Taj Mahal.  It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.  The memory of that day will be with me until my dying breath.  I even wrote a poem about it years later.  

Santos left his position with Royal Caribbean in May of 2003.   I last sailed with him in April of that year.  Though the miles separate us, he and his family remain dear to my heart.  I have wanted so badly to return to India.  His lovely mother died a couple of years ago so I will not see her again.  I was supposed to go for a month in mid-October of this year and even had my ticket - I had saved those frequent flyer miles for an eternity.  It was to be a really special trip because I would see not only Santos and his family but five other of my Royal Caribbean "family" who were home on vacation and several others who have since retired from the company.  Sadly, my mother became ill and I had to go to Georgia instead.  Also, my nursing job of 21 years with San Francisco ended and money became an issue.  My Indian friends assured me that I didn't need to worry about food or lodging, I just needed to get myself there.  

God willing, I will still get that chance again!  I still have the miles and I want to see all those dear friends before my life ends.  After all, I'm known in Royal Caribbean circles as the American mother of the Indian crew!

Me, Santos, & my youngest son, Jeremy, in July 2002 

( Jeremy's high school graduation present was a cruise )

I've now completed 78 cruises with Royal Caribbean - 26 on my original ship, the Monarch of the Seas.

Here I am late one night, having a couple of bottles of wine in the dining room, with my dear friends, Irish maitre d',

Seamus Mee, four Indian headwaiters and a great Indian chef!  

Sunrise

I see the dawn light up the sky,
And soon the sun breaks through,
The colors bring me little joy,
Since I am far from you.

You are on a distant shore,
Your day is at its end,
As the sun comes up tomorrow,
I will miss you, dearest friend.

The days all run together,
Brilliant sunrise, follows dawn,
All I feel is utter loneliness,
And sadness since you've gone.

When, at last, we meet again,
And never have to part,
There will be eternal sunrise,
Taking place within my heart.

Carmen Henesy

Copyright (c) 2007 by Carmen Henesy
All rights reserved.

 Lake Tahoe Sunrise by scottleeschwartz Flickr

Light at the End of the Pier - Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii - PatruckSmithPhotography -Flickr

Pre -dawn light over the Golden Gate Bridge - Oldvidhead - Flickr