My mom had a brilliant idea 10 years ago: “Honey, why don’t we go on an Alaskan cruise?”
I’ve learned over the years that I’m not the biggest fan of cruises, but of the ones I’ve taken, this one stands out. Seeing glaciers calve and spotting seals and whales that pop up out of the water really is ridiculously exciting - much more so than watching rhythmly-challenged people attempt to strut to some Top 40 song in a bikini on the pool deck and not spill their $12 fruity cocktail.
One of the excursions that Mom and I opted for was a floatplane ride over a glacier. We were paired up with an older couple for our flight in a tiny 6-person plane. Not that this was surprising, since pretty much everyone on this cruise had gray hair and an AARP membership - except for me.
The pilot offered the front passenger seat to the older man, who graciously accepted. Mom and I took the middle seats, and the man’s wife sat in the rear.
We took off and hurtled our way over the mountains to the glacier nearby. The scenery was incredible. The ice formations and the shapes they made - sometimes jagged, sometimes strangely swirly - fascinated me. My jaw was on the floor as I stared out the right-side window. Mom (and her jaw) mirrored me on the left side. Neither of us had ever seen anything like this. Who knew that snow and ice could be so gorgeous?
“SnnnnooooOOOOCCCKK.”
Mom and I snapped out of our trance at the sound coming from the back of the plane. We turned around to see what the obnoxious interruption was. The woman in the back seat was sound asleep and snoring. We were gliding just a few hundred feet above some of the most amazing scenery I’ve ever seen (and scenery that isn’t easily accessible, either), and this woman just zonked out.
Really? Really.
Also, this flight was not cheap. For Mom and me, it was completely worth the price. But for Captain Narco, well, she probably took the world’s most expensive nap. I hope she got some good rest.
