Motivating Gratitude

The sky was ablaze with lights from the completed and under construction skyscrapers of Philadelphia as the giant plane in which we were safely lodged ascended on the second leg of our journey to Rome, Italy. Already tired from a morning of last minute packing and preparation as we checked off each of the items on the “packing” list for our fifteen day journey aboard a giant cruise ship through the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic Ocean to Fort Lauderdale, sleep was emerging as a welcomed visitor. After a few nibbles of what was described as a chicken dinner, this host to Parkinson’s symptoms opted for desert and the evening’s medication before fading into an ever so brief period on near REM sleep. The arrival in Rome was smooth, but the help with moving from the plane exit to “immigration” and then to baggage claim did not materialize as had been promised before boarding in NC. As the journey walking became longer and longer we finally reached the exit to the “receiving” area of the airport where we deposited our luggage with the cruise line and were instructed when and where to meet for the one hour transport to the ship for embarkation. Words of gratitude for the strength to have made that long walking journey were uttered along with thanks that the excessive walk was accomplished. With a ship sign in her hand held slightly above her head we began what we thought was the short journey to the transport bus. Out the terminal door we marched. There were buses lined up one after the other and we walked by every one of them and then toward an airport exit in the distance. Legs cramping and the weight of my carry-on soon making every step a challenge we walked and walked for what seemed about ten city blocks before we boarded the bus hidden behind an ice cream transport truck. Once seated on the bus this cramping and over tired old codger mentally whispered words of thanks for having found the strength to have made what felt like the two mile walking journey. It wasn’t over, but the one hour reprieve gave encouragement for the last leg of walking through embarkation and the journey to the ships cafeteria and finally to our stateroom. Gratitude was the fuel that fed the motivation to keep on walking, one step at a time!