DINNER PARTNERS

When you go on a cruise, the smallest dinner table is for four people. Generally, we have really enjoyed the company of these people. The maitre 'd looks at your profiles ahead of time and tries to set you up with companionable people. I'm a bookkeeper and my husband is a Nurse Practioner. On our first cruise, we were set up with an Accountant and a Nurse. There company was very enjoyable and interesting except for they were having a miserable time in their marriage. We found the husband in a funk up on deck one night and he spent the entire evening with us. How sad!

The last time we went cruising was for a week. We were seated with some people from LA who were interesting and intelligent. The only thing wrong was that they were: 1. overzealous religious people, 2. they were embarrasing hogs. The first night, the husband looked at the portions and remarked that he didn't think he would be full. I innocently remarked that one could ask for seconds. (Bear in mind that there are four courses-most everyone is stuffed by the time they are finished). Both husband and wife ordered at least two entries per night which was not too bad.

The crowning glory, though, was the night we had lobster. The wife had three dinners, the husband had four and then asked for four more lobsters only. They ate a total of eleven lobsters and, honest to God, the next day our busboy told us that the lobster ran out on the second seating. I can't even imagine what their grocery bill must be like!

My husband and I had a glass of wine each night. These people were non-drinkers. One evening, we saw the husband in a special cigar section puffing up a storm. Now I know their religion forbids smoking.

The reason these people came on a cruise was that their nineteen year old son had come on the cruise with some friends and they decided they would go to keep an eye on him. Can't you imagine what a good time the son and his buddies had? Good Grief! They made sure the cabin they booked was right beside the kid!

The other bad thing about these people was that the husband was a name dropper. He sold Nikes or something in L.A. and supposedly all the stars came to him to be fitted (Pia Zadora was one name he dropped). He also bragged about all the free, expensive, dinners he had had. What a claim to fame!

Anyway, I hope we get some people that are really fun this time.