Cruising
The first time I went on a cruise was decades ago – a few months after my father died. A certified agoraphobic, I reacted to my father’s loss with the conviction that I would no longer be afraid of life. I’d rather go down in a blaze of glory than linger in a hospital bed for months beyond my time.
Inspired by this new attitude in life, I suggested to my mother that she and my ten-year-old son join me on a cruise that headed north from New York, stopping at Newport, RI, and Peggy’s Cove, home of Arcadia National Park, then heading into the St. Lawrence Seaway and terminating in Toronto. Although I suspect that my mother had the misguided notion that cruising after Dad’s death appeared like a celebration of his death, it actually was a celebration of his life and of our lives. It was the acknowledgement of how much bigger our lives could be if we threw caution to the winds.
Each of us had a wonderful time in our completely separate ways. Mom sat by the pool, swam and read. I, being a single mom, scoured the ship for single men in their thirties. My son joined the kids’ club and played at sea with kids his age for a full week. It was the best vacation I’d ever had.
Twenty-five years later, my mother’s soul is cruising in the clouds, and, although not old, I’m older than any child of the sixties ever imagined s/he’d be. My son is in his thirties with a lovely wife and two exquisite little girls. Imagine my thrill when they recently asked me to join them on a cruise to the Bahamas.
A cruise is the ultimate family reunion. There are activities onboard for every age level. And, although you’re all floating on the same vessel, it’s easy to get away from each other and enjoy your separate interests. And just as easy to reconvene for a gourmet dinner or a splash in the pool.
I think that anyone fortunate enough to have the means to take a cruise with their family shouldn’t hesitate. A cruise takes you away from your everyday life while keeping you with your loved ones. It’s a vacation you’ll never forget. If you’re able, do it because you can. You need no other reason.
Remember to bring a book or Kindle. But chances are you won’t have time to read it.
