Dateline Dayton – Last Friday night we met the friends with whom we were going to have dinner at Tony’s restaurant two weeks earlier. However, that was the day Pauline ended up in the hospital. This time we were meeting them at the Dayton Women’s Club for dinner and a bingo fundraiser.

The lasagna dinner was very good, but it could not match Tony’s. Bingo went slowly. The caller had a difficult time reading the letters and numbers. Because of the pace, few games were played. I managed to win one. My prize was , two items, both of which we will use for our white elephant gift at my high school class Christmas party.

Saturday was Autumn Fest at the Learning Tree Farm. It was an outstanding weather day in Dayton, not hot, but sunny, with a nice breeze. We had a good turnout, equaling last year’s. Hopefully the day raised funds for the Farm. Our son Chris, chairman, put in a lot of time and effort.

We went to church in Piqua the next day and had breakfast with my sisters, brother-in-law and sister-in-law. My brother had to work. By the time we got back home, it was after 4 o’clock. I had to get my brother-in-law Joe’s tax return completed.

Joe had a doctor appointment on both Tuesday and Thursday,  I have to take off work both days to help out.

Tomorrow, after taking Jake to the doggie hotel, we leave for our cruise on Royal Caribbean’s, Freedom of the Sea, which leaves on Sunday, from Port Canaveral, FL. Our goal for Friday is to possibly drive half way. Since we are not on a strict time schedule – the ship doesn’t leave until 5 in the afternoon – if we find someplace we would like to stop and spend a little time, we can.

On Saturday our goal will be to be within a couple hours of our destination.

Sunday, we depart Port Canaveral for CocoCay, Bahamas. We arrive at 7 a.m. a 4 p.m. departure. I’m not sure if we have ever been to CocoCay, so we’ll just have to wait.

Tuesday will be spent cruising and relaxing.

Wednesday we land at St. Thomas, one of our favorite destinations. Arriving at noon, we will be there until 7. Afterward, the ship will head for Philipsburg, St. Maarten.

We arrive in Philipsburg on Thursday at 8 a.m. leave at 5. St. Maarten is another place we have visited on past cruises.

The balance of Thursday, as well as, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 6 a.m., will be spent cruising. This will give us ample opportunity to relax, the purpose of our cruise.

We will arrive back in Kettering late Monday, Oct. 14.

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net