Incentive

For the Christian family, "Nixon In China" was a daunting, exhausting, intimidating, ultimately wildly successful undertaking. Frankly, there were moments in the process (okay, more than moments) that we were teetering on the brink of utter despair.

Knowing that we would be facing some trying times, we took action before the rehearsals even began.

We booked a cruise.

We took our first cruise together 2 years ago. It was a short 4 night trip out of the Port of Los Angeles, close to home. Bob was unsure if he could hang with it, but it ended up being, as Bob would put it, an enjoyable experience.

As we stood on the brink of "Nixon", we agreed that a cruise in our future would be an incentive to maintain sanity. Believe me, the cruise has already more than paid for itself in the moments of escape it offered during the darkest of "Nixon" hours. I would be sitting in the pit completely overwhelmed physically, mentally, and emotionally (but never spiritually), ready to cash it in. Instead, I would picture Bob and myself lounging on our balcony breathing sea air and eating bonbons and I would feel refreshed. It worked every time.

As we make our way through the next 44 (but who's counting) days, we will be savoring every moment, even as we anticipate our escape.

Meanwhile, here is a glimpse at what we have in store: