Response to Loud's comment

I'm sorry you didn't know, it wasn't a secret, I guess it never came up in conversation and the wedding took front and center for quite a while.
Last year the sisters decided they wanted to go on a cruise and be able to do this without children and grandchildren-- so that they could enjoy visiting with one another; also that it would be good for Mama. I've never been interested in a cruise --I'm too clostrophic; and Dad was never interested. After much debate, we decided to go and so we paid 1/2 on deposit. When Mama had to go in the nursing home, I guess I mentally put it on the back burner. When it came time to pay the final bill, I talked with her Dr and she saw no reason for her not to go.
Toni and Cecil aren't going, their Dr doesn't think it would be good for Cecil. Bobbi and Gordon aren't going. Gordon thinks Bobbi can't handle it. So its Joyce and Charlie, Maxine and Elias, Dad and I: Mama and Candy are rooming together.
It's a 10 day cruise with the Holland America line. We leave from Ft Lauderdale,>Bahamas>Curacao>Aruba>Costa Rica> and Panama Canal. I have mixed feelings, I'm finally getting excited about the trip (so is Dad); of course, the down turn in economy doesn't help matters.
We leave here on Nov 6 and leave Ft Lauderdale on Nov 9; return on Nov 19, we should be home on the 2oth.