After the global health crisis cancelled our anniversary getaway weekends for two years in a row, my husband and I nabbed some cheap cruise tickets last year when everything was still up in the air because of the crisis. It was a bit of a gamble (and technically still is), but it seems to have paid off, with travel restrictions being lifted worldwide.

The cruise will depart from Hawaii and end up in Sydney, stopping at Tahiti, Moorea, and New Zealand along the way. I was eyeing a train tour in New Zealand that looked interesting, but sadly, it sold out. As the person who is mostly in charge of the travel itinerary, I expressed my disappointment about this to my husband, and then continued with trip planning.

A day or two later, this conversation happens.

Me: “Okay, I’ve sorted out Tahiti and Moorea. Now we just have to figure out what we’re going to do in New Zealand!”

Husband: “New Zealand? We’re not going to New Zealand.”

Me: “Yes, we are!”

Husband: “When?”

Me: “On the cruise? We’re going to be in New Zealand for three days!”

Husband: “I thought it wasn’t going to New Zealand.”

Me: “I mean, the train tour got sold out, but the cruise is still going there.”

Husband: *Pauses* “Oh.”

He suddenly looks very sheepish.

Me: “Where did you think it was going?”

He’s looking more and more sheepish.

Husband: “…Colorado.”

Me: “What?!“

Husband: “Listen. I heard ‘train’ and thought ‘Colorado’. STOP JUDGING MY BRAIN!”

According to my husband’s brain, it is perfectly reasonable for a cruise ship going from Hawaii to French Polynesia to Sydney to also stop at… *squints at map* …Colorado. No, I have not let him live this down.