The Cruise--Details
I didn't include more details in the prior "The Cruise" post for two reasons. 1) I didn't think anyone would be interested; and 2) This trip didn't include much of the normal topics: good beer, good coffee or John-style travel. But there are details, which may be useful to some people contemplating how such a trip is put together. On the first day of the trip, we drove three hours to pick up my mother in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At 85, she isn't comfortable driving for long distances and hadn't flown for many years. We then drove 3 1/2 more hours to Chicago, where we checked into the Wyndham, where you can get a room that includes the cost of parking for up to 12 days. We were up early on the hotel shuttle to O'Hare, where we then boarded the a non-stop American Airlines flight to New Orleans. Here, we checked into a Hampton Inn near the port. My mother was pretty tired, so Julia and I went out for a Cajun dinner and live music. Rememberi...
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Over the years, as you too have likely experienced, we stout (and porter) enthusiasts suddenly find ourselves choking, gagging and, if there's clear area, SPEWING after a sip of dark-colored piss-water.
Dad used to make a show of rolling the cork next to his ear (it's dry and "crackles" if the bottle has not been properly stored), sniffing the cork (for initial notes & to prime the olfactory) and the dramatic swishing of the initial sip.
I never saw this performance for myself but heard of it from Mom. In acknowledgement of the tradition, I have, once or twice, taken advantage of an occasion such as you describe to clutch my throat while performing the aforementioned dramatics (gagging etc.)
If nothing else, I've obtained a modicum of revenge and paid homage to my paternal grandparents who, because they didn't need to work, dabbled in *The Theater.*
Some people say forgive & forget; I recently read Wallace Stegner (*Wallace Stegner and the American West* by Phillip L. Fradkin) held grudges and savored his rare revenges. You might enjoy it.
I’ll give that book a look. I’m more a fan of sweet revenge than smoldering grudges that do the holder harm. I can forgive for those who don’t know better, so long as the ignorance isn’t intentional.