The Titanic

It was a strange trip.  Two trips, actually. The eight days on the boat,

and the three that followed in Switzerland. I had COVID like symptoms for most of the eight and wore a mask 24/7.  By the time we disembarked, I was symptom and mask free.

It was odd, being one of just two taking precautionary measures.  I joked that I’d glimpsed what it’s like to be a leper.  To be sure, a week is inconsequential when compared to a lifetime. Still, the mask, the symptoms, the semi-isolation put me in a different place. 

Looking back, I realize it probably had not been a good idea to read Eric Hoffer’s classic,

as well enough of Brian McClaren’s Life after Doom to want to bury my head in the sand.

When I wasn’t considering what it would be like to drift endlessly with a community of retirees, I imagined we were on the Titanic,

passengers and crew oblivious to the unfolding future.

It didn’t help that the crow that followed us for a day,

hung out near the life preserver.

But enough of the gloom.

Though I acquainted myself with just a few of my fellow travelers, most seemed nice enough. And the meals, the creation of Chef Igor, exceeded all expectations.

But the best the boat had to offer was the the housekeeping staff, the bar crew, and the servers.  Pleasant and always professional, they made the trip. And that they hailed from 17 countries made for memorable conversations.

The sights along the way were memorable as well.

Cologne,

and its cathedral.

Koblenz.

Heidelberg.

The Rhine,

and its Gorge.

Strasbourg,

its cathedral,

and Albert Schweitzer,

a favorite son who asserted that “reverence for life” is at the core of all ethics.

After disembarking at Basel, we bussed to Zurich, a civilized city if there ever was one.

Its lake,

its river,

its old country streets.

The morning after Zurich we rode the train to Interlaken,

on the water as well,

and a second train to Lauterbrunnen,

with its incomparable valley.

Roger, Kathy and I flew home on Thursday, while Jen flew to Belgium for a week with Min,

our foreign exchange student from years ago.

On the Amsterdam to Detroit leg, I read something lighter.

A little “head in the sand” but a good read.

Home for three days now, I’m enjoying the routine of feeding the dogs and chickens, making coffee my way, and the bed too.

Best of all, it’s great to be home with the grandkids.