QE2

One fine day in Ireland, we drove down to County Cork to the town of Cobh (pronounced "cove"). Our purpose in going was to see the town that rescued the Lusitania survivors and waved good-bye to the Titanic. But we were in for a wonderful surprise! The Queen Elizabeth 2 came into port while we were there, and the entire population of tourists and residents came out to greet her. We all stood at the waterfront railings waving like fools and being waved at by the equally excited fools at the railings on deck.

"It's just a cruise ship!" MJ sneered.

Kids!

For me, it was eerie and inspiring. The QE2 is of the Cunard line, so there we were in a town which is effectively a cemetery and memorial for many of those who died on one of Cunard's most famous ships, watching a big giant humongous ship sail in that had "CUNARD" proudly painted on its side. It felt like we were jinxing the ship somehow, but as far as I know, she hasn't sunk between then and now.

I'll resist my newborn impulse to take a cruise and try to keep it that way. (Can't you just see the headlines? "Queen Elizabeth 2 sinks in hurricane Veronica")