Thirteen
I was, quite possibly, vibrating from excitement. Today was the day. I was moving on board Eik, and we were starting our transit of the Panama Canal. I put up a post on f*******: with a link to the webcams and our approximate transit time, and I sent the same information to my parents via email, plus I had a conversation with my mum before packing up my stuff on Silver Lining. I gave Peter and Edith a few gifts: some of Edith’s favorite chocolates to replenish the supply I’d been dipping into and a collection of random candy bars.
We tearfully hugged goodbye, and I promised to email them updates. Edith said cruising friendships are like jack-in-the-boxes: you never knew when they would pop up again. I hoped she was right.
I’d walked the docks with my stubby last night, saying g
