So you can rev ‘er up, don’t go slow
It’s only green lights and all rights
Let’s go together with a wink and a smile
Now my heart hears music
Such a simple song
Sing it again the notes never end
This is where I belong!
When I left the flagship I swore I would not return. I had always been good to her, but she had not always been good to me, we had a long talk her and I (yes, I talk to my ship, strange I know but not as strange or uncommon as you might think) and we parted on relatively good terms…I walked down that gangway certain that I would never walk up it in a working capacity again.
And dammit I missed her.
The flagship and I have our issues ,but that’s not her fault – it was the job, and the particular cruise, and some very specific issues with some very specific people. It was never ever anything to do with the ship. She’s my girl, she always has been.
And I know now she always will be.
Walking up the gangway this morning, in a totally different context than I had left, felt like walking through my own front door. Walking through the library? Okay, that felt weird, and more than a little bit of sad, because that library is going to be gone soon, one more cruise and the whole thing will be torn out except for a the travel books and the coffee table books, the collection I worked so hard to build will be adopted by people who will take it home peacemeal (at least it won’t be incinerated), and only the memories of it will remain. But it brought a lot of people joy before that time came, and I’m happy to have been a part of that.
After passing through that slight pang, I went to my new home, threw open all the blinds, let the sunlight glint off the brand new machines – and I felt myself start to settle. It’s like the ship was giving me a hug…welcome back she said, I’ve missed you too…and I’m glad you’re happier now.
Hi old girl, I’ve missed you