I’m too old for spring break, which means I’m just about the right age to be a spring break chaperone.
Sailing from Tampa, Fla., Monday on a cruise with nine Chattanooga-area students out for the holiday and a few other parents brave enough to come along, I’m vacationing more to help some high school seniors have a memorable experience than for personal pleasure.
I brought along a laptop, planning to work for four days out of the five. Most of the students brought along hopeful anticipation, considering only a couple had been on a cruise before. Several asked me what to expect.
Beyond the obvious, I told them, expect anything.
I learned that lesson the hard way on a weeklong Christmas cruise with family two years ago. Expecting a forecast of sunny skies and calm water to deliver its promise, our ship got caught in a surprise storm that was so severe even experienced crew members were left uneasy.
Cruise ships sailing the Caribbean often have to flee developing storms, but every now and then — pow — a gnarly tropical storm pops up.
I’ve been on the seas in a storm before and know how oceans can roll in turmoil, but this beat anything I’ve seen — waves steadily crashing more than five stories high while most of the almost 3,000 passengers gathered in the hallways. Some covered their mouths, trying to stave off illness. Some prayed out loud. Some cried.
I, on the other hand, rather enjoyed it.
Not the fear or illness, mind you. I’m not that cold.
But that long night, highlighted by cruise-line comedians who made jokes about the Titanic and drowning despite audience wails in lieu of laughter, was one of my most memorable vacation days ever.
Nobody in my family was sick, and nobody was scared. We just talked, told stories, laughed and generally ignored the chaos. A crew member, noting all the people stretched out around us, approached and asked a question.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing,” I said. “We’re fine.”
“Exactly,” he said. “What’s wrong with you?”
I explained that people pay money to ride cruise ships, and people pay money to ride roller coasters at amusement parks.
“We just got lucky,” I said. “A two-for-one deal.”
So now I’m back, setting sail for spring break — but planning to work through any surprises.
E-mail David Magee at dmagee@timesfreepress.com.