Not Mark!

I am back on a cruise ship after a few years practicing being a landlubber, and a lot of things have changed, but some have stayed the same. 

For example, we started out on ships with 1000 passengers, while this one, the Sun Princess, has over 4000. You wouldn’t think with that many people enjoying a vacation in the Caribbean sunshine that you would run into the same people multiple times, but it does happen, and when it is a case of persistent mistaken identity it becomes a story for this blog. 

One evening on the first day, we were watching one of the many activities in the large Atrium in the centre of the ship, when a couple approached us and started talking to me about something I knew nothing about. Looking puzzled, I said, “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

“Yea, Mark,  we were talking in the lineup to get registered, remember it’s Beth & Tony from Boston.”

Well, I am getting old, and perhaps my memory isn’t what it was when I could remember the names of all 350 students in my school and most of their little siblings, but I knew I had not chatted with Beth & Tony from Boston.

“I’m sorry, but I am not Mark, my name is Art and I'm  from Toronto.”

She gently reached out and touched my arm, “Ha Ha Mark, that’s very funny I’ll see you around, say hello to Martha for me.”, and away she went down towards the buffet.

On day two, I ran into the same lady again, and I was suddenly "Mark" once more. I was thanked for a lovely time with drinks last night in the Crooners Bar. Well we did have drinks in the Crooners, but it was before dinner not the evening, and it was not with Beth & Tony. “Listen, “ I said, "I really am not Mark, my name really is Art and I did not have drinks with you last night.”

The poor lady really did look confused, “Mark, are you serious, you must have a twin on the boat then.”

“Yes, seriously I am not Mark, I’m sorry but you really must have me mixed up with someone else, my name is Art not Mark.”

“That is amazing, you really must have a twin on the boat.” She said, and I thought she must finally believe me. 

On day three, another of the sea days that I enjoy so much, I was standing in line waiting for a cup of Strawberry Sorbet, and I noticed the same lady in line behind me waiting to order, and when she finished putting her request in, she came over to me and said, “We really do have to stop meeting like this.”

Well, I assumed she now knew I was Art and not the mysterious Mark, so I simply replied “That is very true, I agree.”

“But,” She replied, I really do need to thank you for pulling Tony’s butt out of the soup last night, he completely forgot to bring the Christmas lights I had put out for him; it was so good of you to lend him that string of lights. We will make sure to get them back to you.”

“I’m sorry, but again, I have no idea what you are talking about. I am not Mark, I am Art, And I did not lend Tony any Christmas lights.” I told her - she obviously did not believe me last time so I added. “Ok, look, come over here and wait for my order to come up, I ordered strawbeerry sorbet and he is going to do it now. Listen when he calls me name.”

Sure enough, the server came over with my strawberry sorbet and announced “ARTHUR”, and I took my nice cold sorbet. “See,”, I said, ‘Arthur’ or ‘Art’ for short, not ‘Mark’. So I guess if you want to return the lights, you will have to look for someone who looks exactly like me, but answers to the name ‘Mark’.”.

Now I suppose she could be stalking me for some reason, but I have encountered her three times in three days on a boat carrying 4000 vacationing passengers, and I am yet to come around a corner and come face to face with someone who looks exactly like me.  . . . . . And I do wonder if the next time I see her it will be as “Mark” or as “Art”.