Birthday celebrations! Bill and Judy

I can’t believe I didn’t blog on Bill’s birthday! Perhaps it was all the celebrating, I was so distracted! We have all been planning little niceties for Bill, we love him so. We’ve been planning all cruise what to do for him. The day was quiet and lovely at sea. During the evening, things got raucous! First off, Linda got a haircut! She has changed her style. She looks so cute and young, you will hardly recognize her when she gets home. It really looks great. Bill says it is a similar style to when they were first dating. Maybe that was on purpose…. The captain had a cocktail party for Bill! He invited everyone who is a member of the Captain’s Club to come celebrate. I guess the captain was so excited that he forgot to wish Bill a happy birthday or even announce it in his talk. Oh well, it was nice to gather everyone together and serve appetizers and drinks just for Bill. On to dinner! We had a great dinner, as always. We decided to give Bill his card and gifts at dinner. Lindsey, you would have loved this part. I think Matt and Melissa might have as well. Bill received a red fez for his birthday! Man, did he look good in that. He also received a jeweled felt hat from Turkey, a fat little fryer leaning on a beer keg from Assisi. By the time Bill got to dinner, I think he had already drunk one of his gifts. I hope someone got some good pictures of Linda’s hair and Bill’s hat, because it was a night to remember. We love you, Bill! Happy Birthday!

Speaking of birthday’s, I didn’t talk about Judy’s birthday on our bon voyage day. I guess I didn’t expect to be the only blogger. For Judy’s birthday, we all met at the Lawn Club. Yes, it has real lawn. I’ve seen them watering and John has seen them mowing. It is amazing how the grass cools things off. It is wonderful and you can see people playing bocce or putting or just sitting in the grass. It was a perfect place to celebrate Judy. We had birthday drinks and sang and toasted Judy. I am sure that a sail away party from Rome to Greece made it a birthday to remember! But, just so she didn’t forget the day, Scott presented her with a gorgeous sapphire ring. Like she wouldn’t remember! Then at dinner, the card and the gifts continued. Not to be outdone by Scott, we got her a cheap little wooden cross with the prayer of St Francis in Italian. Ok, you win, Scott. Judy also got some amber earrings and a keychain with Ramus and Romulus and their shewolf mother from Rome.

All in all, birthday’s are fun when we are all together. We are such a close group, everything is special. AND, we have one more to celebrate. Jan’s birthday is on the day we arrive back in Rome. I am afraid that the celebration won’t start at breakfast at 6:30 when we are supposed to disembark! That would not be memorable! That would be miserable. I think we are going to be a little late to disembark this time.