"Love builds up the broken wall
and straightens the crooked path.
Love keeps the stars in the firmament
and imposes rhythm on the ocean tides.
Each of us is created of it and
I suspect each of us was created for it."
~~ Maya Angelou


Hi all,

I just got back into town last night after being away on a cruise for over a week.  I had a really nice time but am very, very, very glad to be back!!!  I missed so much, including my friends at JABB! 


Due to my only very recent return, this is really, REALLY thrown together and short.  Nonetheless, I hope you get a chuckle or two.  Hopefully the next one will be more organized.

God bless,
Jenni

So, as I wrote above, I've been on a ship for a while.  I'd decided some time ago that, unless I had an awful time, I would use my experiences to write a sorta lighter follow-up to "We Trust to Thee."  In the story, Raquel will be marrying a cruise ship captain on board a Caribbean cruise.  And she'll be inviting Andrew and Co. to make the momentous journey with her since they were so supportive when she lost her daughter, Dawn.  And Andrew's her "sweet boy" and he just plain has to be there.  So sayeth I!  Anyhow...  Yesterday, in the Fort Lauderdale airport, I began to write this top ten (which turned into a 12) about it cause my initial plan for this newsletter fell through (unless you all wanted to try to decipher my handwritten journal which included a lot of whining prior to my locating the coffee bar).  It's kinda spoilery, I guess.  Some of these things might or might not happen in the story (and I have no clue when that will be completed).  But I thought some of the mental images were fun so without further adieu...

Top Twelve Things Likely to Happen When
Andrew and Co. Go on a Caribbean Cruise



12.  With the rush of going directly from an assignment to the cruise, Andrew will take the Dyelander ladies up on their offer to pack for him.  He'll regret this decision when he finds himself in the hot Caribbean with only his much loved flannel shirts, jeans, and leather jacket.

11.  Just kidding.  I'm sure the ladies would put Andrew's comfort above their own apparel appreciation and have enough common sense to pack weather and vacation appropriate clothing.  But there may be a slip or two...  So Andrew may find himself having to explain to a security agent why there's a loaded tool belt in his luggage. 

10.  Andrew will have to gently remind Lady JenniAnn about his status as an immortal when she freaks out upon hearing of his intent to swim with sting rays and sharks at one of the ports.  Eeek. 

9.  Andrew and Adam will wear shorts due to the heat.  Everyone will go into shock upon actually seeing their calves and knees.  (Seriously, am I the only one who thinks it odd that Andrew wandered deserts in slacks and only wore shorts once in 8.5 years?!?!)

8.  While chauffeuring the ladies during pre-cruise shopping, Andrew will be introduced to the world of women's
swim wear and the angst caused by it.  May God have mercy on his soul.  (BTW, I totally saw a very much not there bikini with a white dove on it.  I could only imagine the reaction that might get from our favorite angels...  ::shudders::)

7.  Upon landing near the cruise ship's main port, Andrew will just be glad to conclude a flight with out having anything spilled on him or having to help birth a baby.  Or getting chewed out by Sam shortly thereafter...  Grrr... 

6.  Some girl will hit on Andrew while on the ship.  Then another.  And another.  Andrew will look on with innocent amusement as his friends dole out the evil eye and it dawns on him that, for once, someone's actually getting a lil jealous over him.  Little does he know it happens A LOT!  Love him...

5.  Andrew, ever pleased to make people happy, will gamely agree to have his hair braided by the locals.  The Look will be permanently stuck on Tess' face until he undoes them.

4.  Good natured fighting will ensue as many of the ladies vie for the chance to undo the aforementioned dreads.  I know none of them were ever glad about his broken arm.  But I bet they miss the excuse it gave them to do his hair.  Sigh...

3.  While on board the ship, the cabin stewards assigned to certain unnamed Dyelanders will wonder why they have men's flannel shirts tucked under their pillows...  Gah, that's really clingy.  I maybe shouldn't have wrote that.  I now feel embarrassed for the characters.  Oh well.  They're obviously doing something with those shirts
they keep stealing!

2.  Everyone will look at the AODs (who may or may not have been on a certain doomed ship) with concern when a musical performer on board plays "My Heart Will Go On."  And, yes, they totally played that on the real ship.  What the what!?!?  Why not play "Nearer My God to Thee" while they're at it!?!? 

1.  And then all sorts of other sappy things will happen.  But I'll leave those for the story...  ;-)  One thing I definitely know will NOT happen, though: At no point will the phrase "I'm king of the world!" be uttered.  Thank the Father for that!

JABB TOC

JABB 303

(Photo Credits: The photographs used on this page are from "Touched by an Angel" and owned by CBS Productions, Caroline Productions, and Moon Water Productions.  They are not being used to seek profit.)