Susan and I took our first ocean cruise in 1997.

Growing up, I thought only rich people could afford to take cruises. I was pleasantly surprised when my travel agent told me we could take a four-night cruise out of Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Carnival Cruise Lines for about a thousand dollars.

It just so happened that Susan’s parents, George and Martha Campbell, were living in Winter Park, Florida (in the Orlando metro area) and they happily agreed to watch our three school-age children while we took a cruise to the Bahamas.

It was a wonderful experience.

Since then, we have taken several cruises on Carnival. On a Carnival cruise, you feel like you are rich for a few days. You prepay for most of the trip and it’s like eating “free” at fancy restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Dinner is a treat. We usually get sort of dressed up. We always eat in the formal dining room. We have the same waiter every night and they are friendly and very helpful.

After cruising by ourselves, we decided to take a few family cruises on Carnival. These are special. It’s hard to get the whole family together for anything but the kids can’t escape when you are out to sea. And our kids really, really like going on cruises.

Because we must publish 51 weeks a year, we take off the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Twice in the last five years, we have booked a Christmas cruise with our grown children.

It is more expensive but it is real memory maker. Carnival hosts a Christmas service on Christmas Day and it tells the story of Jesus in a meaningful way. Hundreds of guests show up and they get a full holiday experience.

I like to take cruises out of Galveston, Texas, because it is the closest port to Tulsa. I did learn that it’s best to book a flight to Galveston rather than driving down to the Gulf Coast. The drive down isn’t took bad because you are excited about the vacation but the drive home is very long and exhausting.

We have been to the Bahamas and to the Western Caribbean (several times). These are fun trips but I sense the family would like a change of scenery. The trouble with sailing out of Florida or California or Louisiana is the cost of flying to the port.

We were wanting to book a Christmas cruise this year but those plans have been jeopardized by the coronavirus.

I am not really too fearful of catching the virus (although I am older than 60 and therefore in a high-risk group). Carnival ships have always been spotless. They have hundreds of crew members who try their best to make sure no one gets sick on board.

But there are problems.

First, Carnival is taking such a financial hit over the coronavirus, I am not sure that they will even be offering cruises in December.

I checked the Carnival website in March and they were not offering December bookings.

Since our last cruise in December of 2018, we now have two grandchildren. So, the cost of the cruise has increased because we have nine instead of seven passengers to pay for.

My daughter likes the idea of a Disney cruise. It looks like fun for the little kids but not much fun for adults. Plus, the costs for those cruise is astronomical.

There may be other cruises on other cruise lines. All them are suffering under the threat of the coronavirus and that could limit our options.

So, if we don’t take a cruise, what should we do? We don’t like to snow ski and Susan hates cold weather – so Colorado is out. Plus, Christmas in the Rockies can be very expensive.

(I like prepaying for meals because the tab for a dinner for nine people can bust a budget pretty quickly).

We took the family to Branson one Christmas and that was a lot of fun. But most of Branson shuts down after Christmas, so a lot of the normal shows were like to see and other activities aren’t as available.

I like to avoid staying at home for Christmas because I tend to work when I should be on vacation.

We could go visit our kids and grandkids in Mitchell, South Dakota, but the winters are really intense up there. Plus, it would be difficult to get a flight that time of the year. You have to fly into Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and then drive 70 miles to Mitchell.

We don’t have a plan.

I hope that the virus situation gets solved.

Whatever we do, the priority will be to spend Christmas with our family.

Our ocean cruising may be interrupted this year. I hope it doesn’t disappear for good.

Funny bumper stickers…

– I park like an idiot.

– That fact that no one understands you doesn’t mean you are an artist.

– Don’t redistribute my wealth. Redistribute my work ethic.

– Buy a hybrid. I need the gas.

– My windows aren’t dirty. It’s my dog’s nose art.

– Don’t touch me – I’m not that kind of car.

– Mobile man cave.

– Help! Dad passed gas and we can’t get out.

– Please don’t hit me. I’m not 100% sure about my coverage.

– I am not the police. Feel free to pass.

– Think I am slow now? Wait until we go uphill.

– If this car is driven carefully, please report it stolen.

– I have good brakes – do you have good insurance?

– I’m not speeding – I’m qualifying.

– Sorry, officer. Just put it on my tab.

– I see your “No Kids” and raise you cats – lots of cats.

– Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did. Only backwards and in high heels.

– Be nice to America or we’ll bring democracy to your country.

– Former baby on board.

– Yes, this is my truck. No, I won’t help you move.

– A wife and a steady job has ruined many a good hunter.

– This vehicle protected by Anti-Theft Sticker.

– Pass quietly – the driver is asleep.

– Do not wash – this vehicle is undergoing a scientific dirt test.

– I am having an “out-of-money experience.”

– I hate bumper stickers.

– I made two mistakes. I bought this Ford. I sold my Dodge.

– Give blood. Play hockey.

– Fake Taxi.

– The parts falling off this car are of the finest British quality.

– I was so drunk once, I asked my shower to stop crying.