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Sisterchicks Went Cruisin’!

WOW! What an incredible time we had cruising to Mexico on the Sisterchicks maiden voyage. A total of sixty-two Sisterchicks got on board the Paradise on September 16 and when we returned on the 19th, I think we gained a half dozen new Sisterchicks. Leanne, our cruise event manager from Australia, was delighted to become an honorary Sisterchick. So was Petra, our waitress from the Czech Republic. I won’t try to explain why Heather and Savanna, our “teen-y” Sisterchicks, tried to turn their waiter, Bobby, into a Sisterchick, but you can see the evidence in the gallery.

Some of our group even met other women on board who had read the Sisterchicks books. I don’t know if it was the Sisterchicks buttons we were wearing or the trail of giggles and the fluttering yellow feathers that gave us away! But of course those Sisterchicks were instantly invited to join our Chocolate Extravaganza! (Which, by the way, was a chocolate fest beyond our expectations and done up first class by Pierre, the ship’s chef who was, of course, from France. Ooh la la!)

What I loved about the weekend was the way God showed up and turned all the planning into a fiesta. We laughed so much. I loved being with everybody. Sisterchicks are everywhere! Truly!

We had Sisterchicks in our group from ages sixteen to sixty-eight and you’d never know because there was no space between us. We were all the same age on the inside. Eternal. Redeemed. New creations in Christ. We had some moms and daughters, some women who had been friends for over twenty years, some cousins and sisters. My sister, Julie, came with me and we had the best time ever.

One mom who works at a Christian bookstore in Canada actually won the trip. One friend had her way paid by her other Sisterchicks who all held garage sales and combined their earnings for this purpose. We had ten from Indiana, sweet Renee all the way from Florida with her mom, a trio from New Jersey, and amazing Cindy, who has been my prayer pal for ten years and bravely organized everything with our fabulous travel agent, Wendy.

I’ll start a verbal scrapbook here with a line that anyone who went on the cruise can finish: “I still smile when I think about…”

• Mandie trying escargot and saying, “I didn’t know this was Fear Factor!”
• Jamie and Colleen fresh from the spa, their hair glistening with plumeria oil.
• Peggy saying we should all get tattoos and me keeping a straight face.
• Watching Sherry and Lee Ann swing to Rockin’ Robin.
• Reclaiming the Leonardo Lounge with Sunday morning worship with Paula.
• The freaky guy who made a bunch of us scream and run back into the elevator.
• Practicing our “Paula and the Peeps” skit and dance routine in our cabin.
• That big, fat, butterball moon smiling on the vast Pacific Ocean.
• Our Sacramento Sisterchicks next to us who taped a large, paper mariachi guy to our cabin door and brought us candy whenever we were noisy. Love thy neighbor! These four Sisterchicks showed me what it looks like to really live each day with grace, gusto, and glee. Two of them were “Chemo Cousins.” One of them has been through chemotherapy two different times. Dorene, you live, Girl! You, too, Kathy, Nancy, and Julie.

Okay, so when’s the next adventure? I can’t wait!

Much love and a giggle,

Robin

Hola, Sisterchicks!

I'm on my way out the door. Off to Women of Faith in Anaheim this weekend and then the Sisterchicks Cruise to Ensenada the next weekend. Wheee! I promise a full report for all our armchair Sisterchicks crusiers at home and lots of photos on the gallery.

Here's a little thought from my friend Ruby from Ireland. She sent this to me via email. Maybe this one has shown up in your email box, too:

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body. But rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a ride!'"

May your "ride" the next few weeks be a humdinger!

Ole!
Robin