Trending
I'm writing today as I drift down the Romantic Danube aboard a Viking river ship, a trip I had eagerly awaited for months.
I am blessed to be surrounded by wonderful family and dear friends, but truth be told, disappointment has abounded.
The river waters proved far too low to navigate, meaning most of my long-imagined river cruise has actually taken place on the seat of a tour motorcoach. Yet, while the May itinerary changed drastically, the journey hasn't been all bad.
As I have aged, I have learned the quiet power of flexibility and the art of extracting joy from circumstances I cannot control. Our ship remains filled with delightful, warm-hearted people. Together, we have marveled at majestic cathedrals, tasted exquisite local cuisine, and even learned the traditional art of making apricot dumplings. Apricots, much like life, contain hard pits, but the fruit surrounding them is wonderfully sweet.
Life brings its share of pits, but the meat of the experience remains delicious. From this unexpected path, I have formed bonds with remarkable people I am proud to call friends, and I only wish they all lived back home with us in beautiful northern Michigan.
This journey has reinforced my belief that the ultimate solution to our world's endless problems is simply to be a friend to everyone, inviting them to be a friend in return. The ancient peoples of Mesopotamia believed the earth was created and destroyed multiple times by disputes among the gods. Today, humanity seems intent on repeating that tragic cycle. We divide ourselves, shouting that my God, my country, or my religion is superior to yours, and so we fight. How about this year, 2026, we choose a different way? Let us share, care, and love one another, reaching for happiness alongside our neighbors rather than against them. Peace, love, (2 fingers up) and a warm hug to you all.