Dear Claudia,
I’ve never met you face to face but feel as if I know you from your posts over the years, you don’t know me however because I have never, ever posted until now. I first “met” you on the yahoo board – I think it was 2003, and then CC, and now LCT. I have enjoyed every one of your messages. Whether it was hot eggs in the suite, BYOB, smoking, country club casual, what does one do with a butler, what is the next ship and when, forward vs aft, and all things in-between.
My husband has worked in the business for many years, I am a newbie (the fish out of water, maybe the fish ON the water) anyway, I felt like I was learning from you. You gave me a great deal of insight into the micro and macro aspects of the business. I wish I could say something that could help you feel better or suffer less at this time but I know right now it is not possible. You lost your best friend and you must grieve. I hope that you find some comfort in knowing that there are many people like myself that you may or may not have met that care about you deeply and are heartbroken to hear of your loss.
I wish I could have met Al. I saw your pictures from last year’s SA cruise and it was obvious how happy you were together. There must be so many special memories that you will surely treasure. Someday I hope we will meet, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. As soon as I return back home to Greece I will light a candle for you in our little church up on a hill that over looks the Aegean Sea. It brought me some comfort when my husband did that for me after I lost my Father recently.
Many warm Regards,
Denise Flokos