Sweet People

So, I feel the need for a preface. Which will probably come out as badly as the rest of this post. And I don’t mean for it to. I don’t want anything about this to sound like “us” and “them,” and I’m afraid it does. But I could talk us in circles trying to talk my way out of it, and it would get even more confusing and stupider, just like this sentence. So I’ll just give up on it and say I hope you hear my heart. We found our people on this boat, and they made my heart happy.

~

There are beautiful places on Earth. High mountains, low valleys, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, palaces, farmland, vineyards, and beaches. God-made, man-made, feats of architecture, new terrain etched by weather. A person couldn’t possibly see it all, or, sadly, even a fraction of it all. But it’s awfully fun trying. Whether it’s half way around the globe, or across town, seeing something new, big or minute, will never get old.

I’m on a long longed-for river cruise as we speak, sitting on the top deck in the sun, listening to gentle piano music, enjoying the beautiful sights as we approach a lock. I’m thoroughly fascinated by them, by the way, now that I’ve been through them. If I were an elementary kid, I’d totally do a book report on them. (Thank the LORD I do not have to do that!)

Anyhoo, it’s been a most interesting week. This boat of about 80 guests is ninety percent old folks. Now, I’m not going to define what I think an “old folk” is, but let’s put it this way: you know how old I am and I’m amongst the youngest ten percent of the people here. And one of the people in my people group is Eleven, so there’s that.
Now, The Lawyer and I have had an absolute blast, so no complaints here. But here’s the funny part, to me anyway. Most days I’ve been the first one up for coffee and the last one out of the lounge after dark. And I do mean on the ENTIRE BOAT. I didn’t know old people kept such abreviated hours. I thought they’d all be in bed by 7 so they could be up at 5am, drinking all the coffee before I could get there. I’m so perplexed. Whatever their reasons may be, here we are, alone having coffee in the morning, alone with the piano player and waiter closing down the lounge after dark, and having the best time.
But all that’s not what this is really about. No, what this is about is people. And not the old folks. I mean the people who make this world go round. (not that old folks don’t, it’s just that that’s not what I’m talking about this time. why am I even trying to explain myself on this one?!? Ya’ll know me well enough to know I mean no disrespect. ANYHOO…..)

The people.

Traveling opens the world. Books do, too, but seeing, touching, smelling, experiencing different places and cultures makes it all that much more intriguing. On each vacation The Lawyer has taken me, we’ve met people who are truly amazing. What makes them most amazing, though, is how they care for others. The people on this Earth who take care of others are God’s in-person gift to our world. Thoughtfulness, concern, and genuine love exudes from these people. One should be so fortunate as to have the heart they do. While I attempt to give away as much as I can, I’ve been the fortunate one to receive more from the people around me, and it always puts a stamp on my heart. The Lawyer and I seem to always make friends wherever we go, and usually not with the people you’d think. We don’t give a rat’s butt about doctors, lawyers, bankers, and the like. (Although we know some really great ones!) No, we prefer to hang out with the ones who are a little lower in the eyes of some. Those are where the real is, where the depth is, where the heart of civilization is. Give me that any day. No offense to whomever is now taking offense or thinking I’m being offensive. If that’s you, then guess what? You’re the one I don’t want to hang out with. And, yeah, we have some of those on this floating metal raft this week. I won’t mention any names, but they made themselves exclusive of others around them, treated the staff like “staff,” and generally were snobs. Get off my boat already, would ya? Leave the rest of us alone to laugh with, dance with, and yell back and forth down the hall with the ones you’re treating so unkindly, because were the ones having the time of our lives. Reminds me of that scene in Titanic where Jack takes Rose to the basement to dance with all the “lower class” people. Such a stark contrast to the snobs on the upper deck.

I want to go dance.

Sweet people like Snezjanka who laughs and makes faces and yells hello to me down the hallway and wants my high heels and dances like there’s no tomorrow. And Adrian who is here with his fiancé, both working on the boat because they have big plans. I’m so sure they’ll meet their goal because they are driven and focused and know what it will take to reach the finish line. Ketut who has kept this room clean before we could even get out the door. He’s stealth and ALWAYS smiling. Simoné who appears and disappears like magic and waves and smiles and quietly moves on to the next task. Addina who tries to force feed me – I mean offers me something to eat. (Ha ha) She gives me the side eye when I say I don’t want more. She’s adorable. Milan who learned us quickly and runs the lounge with precision. He’s more serious than some, so it was always fun to get a smile out of him; even better when he would actually laugh. Then there’s Szebastian and Szilvia. Married, working together in the dining room, the most delightful young couple. I’d put them in my suitcase and bring them home with me if I could. These are the experiences that print indelible pictures on my heart. Yeah, we met some great folks on the upper deck, and had some good laughs and fine experiences. But we ALSO had good laughs and fine experiences with the folks on the boat who are on the boat to earn their living. They helped keep me straight (and I do realize that’s a task), and pointed me in the right direction.(literally more times than figuratively)

I’m intrigued by their stories. The little snippets I got here and there were fascinating. Where did they come from? Who are their family? How did they learn three languages? Why did they choose to work on a boat? When will they get to go home? Do they even want to go home? Do they have children? Can’t they just sit down with me at dinner and tell me everything? Teach me something? Share their language, some culture, a funny story, their heart.

But that’s not how our world works, is it?

Who made the stupid rules, anyway?

Yeah, I get it, I’m the fortunate one who is the passenger on this boat. I look like the snob. But let me tell you, honey, I worked my batooty off to get on this boat. It’s been years in the making, and may not ever happen again. Yes, I soaked in every minute, took every excursion, ate every dessert. But it was earned. Just like Adrian and his fiancé are earning the house they want with a massage salon on property so he can work in the field he is passionate about. I loved hearing how he and she both learned medical massage and worked in hospitals to help people recover. Now they’re on the boat together to fulfill their plan. I’m sad I’ll never know when their plan comes to fruition. But I know it will.

People are people all over the world. Products of their environment, the way they were raised, the hand delt them. But the folks who change their world, deal themselves a new set of cards, make the world spin for themselves. Those are the folks on this raft. And I’m in awe.

Like I said, I’d put them in my suitcase and bring them home with me, sweet kids. But I can’t. So I’ll fondly remember, include them in my prayers, and know in my heart they will work hard to make their life dreams become reality. I’m honored to know them, honored they wanted to talk to me, humbled that they maybe liked me even just a little bit. I’m forever changed by this boat trip, and not in the ways I thought I’d be when I stepped aboard.

p.s. we did find our top deck people, too. Dave and Kim, Larry and Leanne. Shorts, flip flops, fast jokes, nothing fancy at all. The Lawyer and Dave, I’m quite certain, are long lost twins……