Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Never too old!

Musicus

By Musicus,
in Solo Cruisers

 Share

Recommended Posts

nonna5

nonna5

Posted
Posted
God bless to Egon - I'll be praying for him. This should be a lesson to all of us. No matter the plans we make, everything can change in the blink of an eye. We should live every day gratefully with this in mind. Thanks Pat for keeping us informed. Now all of us, from every direction and zone, who have never laid eyes on one another, can all join prayers for our friend, who we've never met in person. God is good and life is wonderful - and miraculous!

 

 

I totally agree. I am joining the prayer circle for Egon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
yellowbird23

yellowbird23

Posted
Posted
Thank you so much for keeping us updated Pat.

How sad that this is the way his trip has to end. ( Especially now that they are at last giving him free WIFI on the ship)

I'd like to believe that it is only a temporary detour. I am almost positive that he'll be back again. Your welcome. It is my pleasure.

 

If anyone has a question for him, I will be glad to pass it on to him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bjbear

bjbear

Posted
Posted
I'd like to believe that it is only a temporary detour. I am almost positive that he'll be back again. Your welcome. It is my pleasure.

 

If anyone has a question for him, I will be glad to pass it on to him.

 

I too, can't believe he won't be back!! I just know it's temporary. :) Not a question Pat, but can I assume that he will still be in contact with you so we'll know what he's up to? I guess that is a question! :confused:

 

Sue

Link to comment
Share on other sites
yellowbird23

yellowbird23

Posted
Posted
I too, can't believe he won't be back!! I just know it's temporary. :) Not a question Pat, but can I assume that he will still be in contact with you so we'll know what he's up to? I guess that is a question! :confused:

 

Sue

I am quite sure he will, but then again, he may not depending on the outcome. I can get in touch with Steve at any time though, which is what I'll be doing if it's too long between communication and will pass whatever I hear on to everyone here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CAC104

CAC104

Posted
Posted

Isn't it amazing that for 95 years old how quickly and easily his fingers can move over the piano keys. He has been so lucky not to have been slowed down by arthritis. I have know people as old as Egon, but none of them could move as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
PartyOfOne

PartyOfOne

Posted
Posted
Hello all..

The newest itinerary will be coming from Doug hopefully soon.

 

 

 

And here it is...

From Egon to Yellowbird to you. Enjoy!

 

# 40 July 2-10 2012

 

My new tablemates are three rather non-inspirational older English couples. Of course they enjoyed the champagne, once it came, because it had not been sent it to the table and I had to involve several people to finally get it, but not the strawberries, which I found only next day in my cabin and took down to the table; afterwards I brought three of them to Mandy, Mira (Manager of Guest Relations) and Raquel who showed me how to get on and off the ship's WiFi. First I had to buy internet time (8 hrs for 50 Euro) and this will then be voided from my account. By the end of the next day, July 3, I had used already 6 hrs of the first purchase. The internet connection worked quite well, but we were mostly stationary in Ijmuiden, Holland, only 15 miles or so from Amsterdam.

 

July 4: at St. Peter Port (Gurnsey). I spent many hours on line today and made difficult decisions. I will abort my Odyssey at this point, cancel the operation in Southampton and return to Canada within the next two weeks. It was just too problematic in many ways to have undertaken it as originally planned and so, with a tear in my eye, I cut my losses, abandon the dream and deal with reality. Stay with me for further developments.

 

July5/6: At a day at sea I worked more hours on the computer, made a flight reservation for July 16, which next day, after consideration, I changed to July 13 (London-Toronto-North Bay, ON), corresponded with the B&B in Southampton to see whether they could accomodate me from the 10th to the 13th and cancel the original reservation, further correspondence with Princess re the cancellation of the cruises booked with them, etc etc - lot's of stuff to attend to. But I played in the afternoon in one of the lounges for an hour and in the evening for a little while at the piano bar in a much nicer setting and with great response from the listeners and it also helped me to diffuse the tension and sadness. Before Dinner on the 5th I had my three martinis at the Captain's Cocktail Party, and got to know a delightful family of five from Atlanta, Georgia who all happened to be musically active and came to listen to me with great appreciation in the piano bar.

 

July 7, Bilbao - I drove around a bit after several hours of frustrating computer work because of unresponsive or sloppy correspondents, but did not go into the center of the city, some 15 KM from where we docked and reachable only by shuttle bus @ $12. When I was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at age 15, I was given this from Psalm 32: 8: "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way in which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye". After a friend of mine 27 years ago had it written out in beautiful caligraphy in both English and German and had it encased in plastic, I carried it in my wallet. Since that time I have come to believe that all that happens in my life occurs for a reason. Maybe this is true, but when I think of the millions who perished in the holocaust I realize that it sure could not be generalized. But to give you the most recent example concerning me: Along with all others, also the booking for the MSC Opera on which I am at present, was made some 8 months ago. I could not know then that when I came here, I would encounter two important friends from MSC Poesia at much earlier times: Many, the Concierge and Angelo, the Hotel Manager. They presented me not only with a water package, but also with free laundry and 3 hours free WiFi per day -unheard of on previous cruises. At that time I did not know that I would have a serious illness which would eventually require me to return to Canada. I could not possibly have achieved all the email correspondence back and forth with my cousin-in-law in Southampton, Insurance, hospital, airlines, Princess and hotel reservations, plus much personal matter without this free WiFi time and Mandy's help in getting a printed referral from the ship's doctor to the specialist in Southampton. Since I started with this only a few days ago, I used almost 24 hr of Internet time and while I again feel that my decision to abort the rest of my itinerary, cancel the operation in Southampton and return to Canada for medical procedures was "guidance", it entailed more back and forth and is still not complete, because my email cancelling the operation has not been acknowledged after 3 days, requiring me to write again, Princess requiring me to call them with the cancellation after I had done it by email, my medical travel insurance provider also requiring me to call re precertification for hospital/operation , even though I had sent them another email with the information that I had cancelled and was returning to Canada, where it would cost them little if anything because of my inclusive Provincial Medial Insurance and would they under the circumstances foot the bill for my return to Canada? And then I got the e-ticket from Expedia for the flights for July 13, but it's not mentioned that I had requested wheel chair assistance, and furthermore the certificate of travel insurance has not been changed from July 16 (which I had originally booked and then changed to the 13th#, requiring more calls to first Expedia and then to the Insurance they deal with to have the certificate date changed - but they cannot find me in the system ... boy oh boy. I need a drink, it's almost 5 o'clock. Thanks for listening and comiserating! July 8 , La Rochelle, France. Even on a Sunday by using Skype to call Air Canada, I was able to ascertain at least the fact that my request for wheel chair assistance is in their system- it was not mentioned on their e-ticket. But even to make a call like this isn't easy: I have to be at a hotspot on the ship for WiFi, there is much ambiant noise and there happen to be unexpected periodic accouncements in five languages blaring through the loudspeakers, forcing me to start all over again. And I also had to phone Expedia again #who answered from Egypt!# because of the travel cancellation insurance not having been changed from the 16th to the 13th July, but tomorrow, Monday, I'll have to call them back after 9AM EST when the Insurance Company is open, for them to call them. We'll be at sea on the way to Southampton and there will be a time difference of 6 hours to be considered. Who knows how well Skype will work because we are on the move and it also will be in a much louder surrounding because of there are also screaming kids to lving things up. Fun and games. By the way, I reveived a reply from my Insurance, telling me that my policy does not cover the return flight to Canada.--Last evening I [played over an hour in the piano bar, actually replacing the scheduled duo and part of Lumi's stint who were only too happy #and, I daresay, fascinated), to listen along with many people in the bar. There again it occurs to me to think that there must be a reason that I have been given this gift which allows me to have no arthritis in my finngers, play well and with endurance at age 95 and on top of it have some 1500 songs in my mental repertoire!

 

July 9 en route to Sothampton. Last cocktail party and the Bar Manager who knows me still from Poesia treated me to a martini. Afterwards I played for 20 Minutes in the Piano Bar as I will for a last tiome tonight. - Arranging for the disembarkment tomorrow after all luggage is ready, the scooter folded and packaged in its special bag (weighing some 40 lbs) and all of this, and I in a wheelchair, leaving the ship about 10 am. Dear Sylvia has arranged for a taxi to meet me at the pier and take me to Bannister House to unload the luggage there and then I guess to her home. Lots of logistics to look after and still many email exchanges. Next time you'll hear from me it will be from North Bay, Ontario.

 

 

www.torbay.net. I'm off and running!

 

--

 

http://home.cablerocket.com/~egon/index.htm

 

 

 

7537469572_dbc9dcc125_o.jpg

Bilbao (2)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
3dogsrule

3dogsrule

Posted
Posted

I wonder if Egon knows that this thread on Cruise Critic has had well over a hundred thousand views?? That's pretty amazing. As is the man this thread is about. I'd be saddened and blue if Egon had just decided to abandon cruising for the heck of it; the fact that he had no choice, it's been taken from him, makes me just really heavy hearted. And if I had a lot of excess money, I'd have had a helicopter drop me on that ship and help him arrange all of this end-of-cruise mess, that had to have been a huge challenge. But it sounds like he's got it well lined up. And I'm so happy he's had a couple of angels on this ship to finally help him get some perks that he's deserved all along, but truly needed now.

 

Pat, please make sure Egon knows he's got a whole bunch of "strangers" who feel like we're friends of his, fans if nothing else, and are praying for him and thinking of him constantly. I know we all hope his return to Canada is event-free and that he recovers from his surgery quickly and has some good news to report. We may not can be there to hold his hand, but he sure holds a place in our hearts and we'll be sending him positive thoughts.

 

Karen

Link to comment
Share on other sites
yellowbird23

yellowbird23

Posted
Posted
That is hilarious!! Needed a smile today. Thanks for posting Pat.

Talking about smiling, I went and got my PA photo license pic taken today and the guy showed me the first one and asked if it was okay. I answered, yes, because any others will be ugly too.:) I look in the mirror anymore and wonder, "where did "she" go?"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...