HOOOOOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dears,

I don't know what I have done right after a week of unsuccessful trying,but this morning it worked, thanks to you, Rick.

I don't have enough time this morning to do a day-to-day catch up use my astronomy class will start in about a half hour, but here are some comments.

All is terrific. At the moment I am up in the faculty lounge, as close to the prow as possible, looking out at the Pacific, which has hardly been that--some sun, but lots of rough water. Many have been sick and there have been injuries as drunken sailors lurch from one side to the other. i haven't had either problem, thank goodness.



I think that we are about 500 miles from Hilo, poking along at about 15 nautical miles because of the roufh seas.
o date I have seen an albatros (one several times or 3?) three times. I would llike to know more about them. We seem to be a milliion miles fron nowhere, but here they are. I haven't even seen anothe ship since we left Ensenada.

2. My cabin is luxurous. You all are not going to be able to stand me when I return home. It's only problem is that there is no internet reception. Otherside, I have plenty of room, the balcony has 2 chairs and a table and I have a bath tube. I woke up in the middle of the night a couple of nights ago and saw large lights outside my balcony. Didn't have my glasses onand they looked huge. I finally got up and went outside. They were stars but many times larger than any see at home and bouncing around because the ship was tossing.

Of course I don't have to lift a finger, no bed making, silver polishing, cooking.

The 23 other LLLss are a very interesting bunch. The youngest is aobut 25, the oldest about 85. They have been everywhere with many repeaters on SAS trips.

Kids are great, too. there are 570 of them from 239 colleges. They are fun, friendly polite and helpful when the deck gets too rocky. We are in the process of assembling "families." I with Mason Graham, The 25 year old, will have 10 of them. The ones I have eaten with are quite excited about this. A few are homesick, some seasick and the rest great. I am looking forward to this particularly as they are contempories of yours, Andrew, Christopher, Emmy and Aly. I'll check the schools to see if any are from your colleges.

I am in seventh heaven going to the classes: music, sacred palaces, solar system and global studies. Except for the global sstudies, there are about 25 in each class; GS meets every day and problably has 300. Going to class is such a privilege.

More later, I hope. Love and miss you