Tonight we are looking forward to dinner together as a group, then a show in the Equinox’s theatre. We are hoping to talk MS Focus’ Derrick Lee into singing at Karaoke tonight. It’s always a treat for our participants! Monday, April 9 The waters were calm and the sky was blue as we spent another day at sea and enjoyed a second full day of educational programs. MS Focus staff and our attendess all gathered in the ship’s conference center as our day started with Cherie Binns, an MS-certified nurse who also has MS, talking about “Finding Better Days with MS.” Cherie’s presentation provided tips for living well with MS. She shared first-hand experience on issues including how to prepare for an appointment with your neurologist and where to access information regarding various MS therapies. She also provided resources for finding the help someone may need. Next up was Dr. Randall Schapiro, who establishedthefirstcomprehensiveMS Center in the U.S. (in Minnesota). He talked about “The Changing Face of MS,” and how there are so many more treatment options now than there were just a few short years ago. The day’s final presentation came from Gail Gibson, a professor of geology who is joining the MS Focus cruise for the 14th time, with his wife Betty, who has MS. Gail treated us to a pres- entation on the formation of the islands we are visiting this week: Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire. All of these islands are land masses that were formed by volcanic activity and we can’t wait to explore them. Tuesday, April 10 We arrived in Aruba, also known in this part of the world as “One Happy Place.” It didn’t disappoint! The Island has beautiful beaches and friendly people. Many in our group opted to venture into a shopping area just outside the ship to search for bargains and souvenirs. Others took shore excursions, including city tours, snorkeling adventures, and a beach break. It was a late night in Aruba – we didn’t leave until 11:30 p.m. Many of us gathered in the Ocean Café onboard the ship before we set sail to share our experiences on the Island. We arrive in Curacao tomorrow. 37 msfocusmagazine.org