My heart was nearly pounding outside of my chest. Trembling hands, sweaty palms… you got it, the whole picture. I was terrified. Surrounded by a room full of people, I did not know. I was there to take a test. Not just any test, but a math test. The pressure of this test was to validate my worthiness of existence on this planet. The proctor of the test walked around the room with her pen and clipboard. She called my name. I acknowledged, her. She promptly asked for payment in full. Expecting a check, cash or credit card payment for $213 so that I can receive the results (after completing the exam) and a stamp of approval from the powers above.

Rummaging through my bag, I panicked when I could only find cough drops and tic tacs that Carolyn had given to me the day before. Fishing out my wallet, I was met with a moment of salvation as I saw three checks paper clipped together. The moment was short lived when I read the “make payable to” line was made out to Wen McNally. I asked the woman if I could sign one of the checks over to her for payment of my test. She declined my offer as she passed over me and called to the next person.

Just as panic really started to set in, not knowing how I would overcome this predicament I found myself in… I heard a vibrating sound near my head. A few seconds and groggy blinks later, I heard soft breathing sounds from both sides of me. A few more seconds passed…and relief washed over me. Realizing that it was a dream…no not a dream, a nightmare, because any left brained activities involving numbers is a nightmare to me.

I did not have to take a math exam after all. I was waking up in a pullout bed with my two besties next to me. Carolyn was still asleep under my covers and Sean was on the floor on the other side of me snoring softly (I can deal with soft snoring!) on a bed made of sofa cushions lined up end to end.

Waking from a nightmare into a dream.

Oh, that’s right, today is cruise day! We stayed one night, slumber party style with six women plus Sean, in a two room suite in Port Canaveral so we would be close to the Enchantment of the Sea, Royal Caribbean ship in the morning. Last night ended with Chinese carryout and everyone chattering with excitement about the weekend adventure ahead.

Now, I am currently in our spacious stateroom while Sean is on the upper deck enjoying a cigar. We only have a few hours till we set sail and I wanted to get at least one more blog post out before I shut off all connectivity to the internet world for a few days.

Tomorrow we will wake in Nassau,  Bahamas. Not wanting to be part of the typical cattle call excursions, Sean, Carolyn and I are determined to find where the locals hang out.  Thanks to seasoned traveling friends, we knew we could count on (Lisa, Robert, Sara, and Joe) we have some places to check out tomorrow. I have grand hopes of some fun stories to share with you next week.

Till then…Bon Voyage! #behappywen