Rough Departure < Smooth Sailing

Getting Past Frustration + Finding Present Peace

ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S QUANTUM OF THE SEAS

I like to think of myself as an easy traveler. I don’t need much—just a seat, a snack, and a sense of direction. But let me tell you, even the calmest souls can be tested when a supposedly simple start turns into a three-plus-hour odyssey.

That’s exactly what happened when we set out for our cruise out of San Pedro yesterday. What should have been a smooth embarkation turned into a frustrating scavenger hunt for parking. By the time we finally made it onboard, not long before we set sail, I was a grumpy, hangry motherfucker with a side of sore back and bad attitude.

Here’s a tip for anyone cruising out of San Pedro: arrive early or be prepared to be irritated beyond belief.

There’s nothing like starting your vacation with a test of patience and a harsh reminder that city-owned ports and parking facilities couldn’t care less about your relaxation goals. They’re not in the business of hospitality. They’re in the business of bureaucracy.

The signage was confusing, the attendants were scarce, and the “available parking” was more rumor than reality. By the time we actually found a parking spot and dragged our luggage halfway to the ship, we had to stand in line for shuttle for over two hours. We were parked that far from the actual port.

By the time we actually made it to the ship, I felt I had earned myself a cocktail, a nap, and an apology from the Port of Los Angeles itself.

But after a short time out, a handful of ibuprofen, and a snack, my mood started to recalibrate. I decided to shake off the crankiness and rejoin the adventure. I found my fellow travelers again, wandered across a couple of decks, hit a couple of bars, and even caught an inning of the World Series at the ship’s main pool.

Slowly, the tension melted away.

By the time dinner rolled around, the frustration of the afternoon felt like a distant memory. The food wasn’t exactly Michelin-starred, but it hit the spot—warm bread, a decent entrée, and a dessert that helped me put the parking lot purgatory behind us.

The ship settled into its rhythm, a slow, steady sway that’s almost hypnotic. There’s something about that gentle motion on the water that tells your body, “It’s okay, you can exhale now.”

As I strolled around the deck after dinner, with a full stomach and an ocean view, I could feel my mood finally catch up with the moment.

The ship was on its way to Mexico and I was reminded—yet again—that peace isn’t about having everything go perfectly. It’s about letting go of what didn’t, taking a deep breath, and choosing to be present right where I am.

Sometimes, I just have to weather the rough departure to appreciate how good smooth sailing feels.

Keep calm and cruise on!
Clint 🌈✌️

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ON THIS DAY = NOVEMBER 1

BIRTHDAYS

• 1849 = William Merritt Chase = American painter and educator

• 1871 = Stephen Crane = American writer

• 1889 = Hannah Höch = German artist and photomontagist 🌈

• 1922 = George S. Irving = American actor

• 1937 = Tom Waddell = American physician and Gay Games founder 🌈

• 1941 = Robert Foxworth = American actor and director

• 1942 = Larry Flynt = American publisher

• 1944 = Kinky Friedman = American singer-songwriter and author

• 1949 = David Foster = Canadian singer-songwriter and producer

• 1957 = Lyle Lovett = American singer-songwriter

• 1960 = Tim Cook = American business executive and Apple CEO 🌈

• 1962 = Anthony Kiedis = American singer-songwriter

• 1967 = Sophie B. Hawkins = American singer-songwriter and musician 🌈

• 1967 = Tina Arena = Australian singer-songwriter, producer, and actor

• 1972 = Jenny McCarthy = American actor and model

• 1972 = Toni Collette = Australian actor

• 1986 = Penn Badgley = American actor and tv personality

• 1991 = Anthony Ramos = American actor and singer

EVENTS

• 1512 = The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, is exhibited to the public for the first time.

• 1848 = In Boston, Massachusetts, the first medical school for women, Boston Female Medical School (which later merged with the Boston University School of Medicine), opens.

• 1870 = In the United States, the Weather Bureau (later renamed the National Weather Service) makes its first official meteorological forecast.

• 1894 = Buffalo Bill, 15 of his Native Americans, and Annie Oakley were filmed by Thomas Edison in his Black Maria Studio in West Orange, New Jersey.

• 1897 = The first Library of Congress building opens its doors to the public.

• 1941 = Ansel Adams takes a picture of a moonrise over the town of Hernandez, New Mexico that would become one of the most famous images in the history of photography.

ADAMS IN FRONT OF “MOONRISE, HERNANDEZ” MURAL

• 1968 = The Motion Picture Association of America‘s film rating system is officially introduced, originating with the ratings G, M, R, and X.

• 1972 = Hal Holbrook and Martin Sheen star in the controversial and acclaimed ABC television film That Certain Summer.

• 1982 = Honda becomes the first Asian automobile company to produce cars in the United States with the opening of its factory in Marysville, Ohio.

• 1997 = Titanic premieres at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES

• Autistics Speaking Day

• National Author’s Day

• National Bison Day

• National Brush Day

• National Calzone Day

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PORTRAIT + QUOTE OF THE DAY

LARRY FLYNT FOR PRESIDENT

“Politics is my hobby. Smut is my vocation.”
Larry Flynt