It’s 4:07pm on Wednesday afternoon, October 29, 2025. My husband and I are on board the SS Beatrice in Central Europe. We are cruising down the Danube River – on our way to Spitz an der Donau – a village of about 1500 residents known for its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, located in the Wachau Valley of Austria. I am gazing at the passing scenery. 

I am sitting in a lounge on the top floor of our floating wonder. I am surrounded by marble floors, elegant mirrors and a Murano chandelier. I am sipping a glass of Zweigelt Red Wine – listening to an Italian opera playing softly in the background.   

If I were home in Tampa, I would have spent part of my day paying my bills, emptying the dishwasher, watering my plants, dealing with dinner details and throwing in a load of wash. After that, I’d be sitting at my kitchen table, facing my cluttered counters, half listening to late-breaking news on CNN. I most probably would be making a list of Halloween candy I needed to buy. Then, coupons in hand, I’d drive to CVS to purchase my Halloween stash. 

Instead, I am writing this column sandwiched in between a morning tour of the Stetteldorf Castle built in 1588 and a festive party on board tonight.

(If I thought replacing our worn and stained master bedroom carpet with hardwood was expensive, I have radically changed my mind. After listening to the owners of this castle deal with the overwhelming task of restoring it to its former glory after having been looted by the Russian Army in World War 2, the carpet estimate seems pretty, pretty reasonable.)

A vacation is defined as a period of time during which a person takes a break from their regular work or daily routine to rest, travel, or engage in leisure activities.
I couldn’t define it better. 
 
Except for our honeymoon, my husband and I have NEVER taken a vacation by ourselves in the almost 50 years of our marriage. This entire experience was new to us. 
 
My husband and I ate food we had never tried.
We didn’t pass on dessert. 
We drank (well, actually, I drank). 
We made new friends.
We traveled to places we’ve never been.
We listened to music we had never heard.
We learned things we never knew. (For instance, we did hear, but couldn’t substantiate, that if women in the royal court wanted to up their chances of giving birth to a male heir, they drank beaver sperm.)
My husband and I were kinder and more patient with each other. 
We held hands.
We slept cuddled close-up next to each other.
We laughed at each other’s jokes. 
We relaxed. 
We re-charged.
We thoroughly enjoyed every new experience.
 
But most of all, while we traveled from Budapest to Prague, we counted our blessings.
We filled our heats with gratitude for being able to have this golden opportunity to expand our horizons. 

 
Keep Preserving Your Bloom,