Baseball Legend Mr. Hank .Aaron

GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!!!

Yesterday was a well deserved sea day!  We have had three full days of tours in Saigon and I hurting.  Enough I even contemplated using the scooter but held off.  We had a light breakfast as my stomach is still hurting so I am not overloading it.  All to soon we headed into the Galaxy Lounge and got our usual front row side seats.  Baseball's great Hank Aaron was the speaker and we really wanted to be able to hear him.  The Galaxy filled up quickly and then in walked Mr and Mrs. Aaron to a standing ovation.  A nice Japanese lady came over and said we were sitting in Mrs. Arron's seat.  So we moved one row back.

He spoke about how when he started to play his salary was $5000 a year and when they won the World Series he was given an $8,000. bonus check that he took to the bank and had them cash it into all twenties. He said he had never had this much money and laid it all out on the bed! By the time he payed all his bills and stuff he had $100 left.  He spoke about drugs and how he couldn't afford to buy drugs or cigarettes.  

He spoke about growing up in Mobile Alabama and his mother trelling him to reach for the stars and he reached for the stars by working hard to become the best ballplayer he could.

He spoke about althetes are roll models no matter what they think he told a story about a young high school player who chewed tobacco because he saw a sports player in commercials and how he ended up getting cancer at a young age and dying from it.

Upon retiring he set up a foundation that helps young kids come together from all countries to learn and play baseball.

He was suppose to talk for 15 minutes and spoke for 45.  He took questions and answers after his talk then sat on a stool, he has terrible arthritis and walks with a cane. We were told no autographs because of this. 

One of our friends asked him what he though about atheletes who use steroids should they be in the Hall of Fame.  He said no if you bet on baseball, use drug enhancers or any other drugs you are cheating and therefore should be banned from the Hall of Fame.  He got a standing ovation on this!

  He did pose with people and the ships photographer took pictures.  Since we were up near the front we only had a few people in front of us . Bill and he had a nice conversation I spoke with his wife who was on a tour with us the other day and we were chatting then.  When we were finished we looked over and the line was so long glad we were in the front!  What a lovely, lovely man.

I then came back to the stateroom and laid down with my feet elevated as they have been really swollen and yesterday they were worse.  So glad that I downloaded a few games into the new IPAD while we were in Bangkok so I could play games while I rested.

Last night was a party for the Crystal Society and a formal night.  We had a lovely french dinner with Harold and Carol who we will miss when they leave in Hong Kong.  After dinner we headed to Karaoke where we had a night cap.  I am trying to talk Carol into getting up and singing like we did in 08.  maybe the last formal nighjt.  They left and Bill came in and I was sitting with Elise she is the World Cruise hostess before you know it they put on YCA and I was pulled up on the dance floor and we were all singing and dancing and having a great time but it was after 1am and my feet looked like balloons so after that song I said good night and came to bed.

So another great day on the Crystal Serenity!  today we will be docking in Chan May the gateway to DaNang.  We were going to do a tour but they were all long ones so we are going where the shuttle bus lets us off and that is by a resort.  Will report back.  Tonight we have a special show called Viva Vietnam for the World Cruises then we will have dinner and there is a show after that!  busy busy.  Bill commented how much fun he is having and how fast the time is going!  Wow could another WC be in our future????

So have a great day!

That's all folks!

Upon his retirement he talked about another important goal which is to help children which is what he has done through the foundation.