Dearest Rachel –
Let me get the aside out of the way first, as it’s a matter of mild frustration. I recorded a few comments about the confluence of Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, and after shutting off the camera, realized there were so many other things I wanted to say, but couldn’t think of at the time. It’s almost as if I have to write a script beforehand in order to have a coherent thing to say to you; in which case, I might as well just write you in the first place. So I guess this letter is a means to express my esprit de l’escalier after the fact. Hope that’s okay with you.
As a further aside – yes, an aside within an aside – this is rather dismaying when I think about trying to film while I’m ashore at one of our ports of call. I can’t be expected to know what’s going to happen – what we’re going to see and do – and thus, pre-writing a script just isn’t feasible. So no matter how much I practice making these videos, they’re never going to come off as particularly polished, which I find disappointing – and perplexing, as I can rabbit on when I’m on the phone with Lars, or even in the dining room with my table mates (who, admittedly, have their own stories that often trump mine, but it’s not as if it’s a competition or anything; I just seem to be in a different circle than most of them. But that’s a story for another time, and given the length of this trip, that’s a good thing, as I can always use more material). But in front of the camera? The silence can be deafening.
Again, I really have to give props to the TikTok generation for being able to communicate with an inanimate object as if it were a person – and being able to somehow visualize the people on the other side of the camera who will see them at some point in the future. It doesn’t come nearly as easily to me. They have my respect for their ability, if not their attitude.
All of which is a series of side comments to my attempt at observation. To be sure, I’m probably not qualified to address the matter, being a Protestant (and an evangelical one, at that), and therefore not really into the whole ‘high church’ thing. Pomp and circumstance is all very lovely, but the real question is whether it wins souls or not, otherwise it’s useless and should probably be dispensed with, anyway.
Then again, I expected there to be enough of the observant in this crowd of guests that it would make sense for the cruise line to provide something to commemorate the holy day as well as the holiday. Indeed, I half-expected to have a smear of ash on my forehead from attending when I filmed this – complete with the obligatory disclaimer that “no, honey, these aren’t yours; that would be wasteful.”
Of course, there may be more to it than a lack of celebrants. Cruise lines, like with airlines, have developed a list of prohibited items for bringing aboard (which I might point out don’t completely overlap, but I couldn’t give you any specifics offhand); one major issue is that of anything that might cause a fire (which is why power strips and multi-plug adapters are no longer allowed). It could be that, since fire is required to produce ash, it’s just not safe to burn palm fronds to convert into ash in the first place. The apparent lack of guests interested in such a religious commemoration just gives them the excuse to ignore it.
And, granted, it’s not the sort of thing I would pursue back at home (although if one has to do something to ignore the fact that it’s Valentine’s Day, this is as good a thing to be doing as any), but seeing how many of the faithful might be here – several of my table mates have mentioned their own churches in passing – it rather surprises me to see it go utterly without mention. Then again, it isn’t as if much seemed to be done about Mardi Gras yesterday, either. The least they could do was to serve some Cajun food in one of the dining rooms last night – etouffee, jambalaya, gumbo… even a beignet for dessert – but aside from a handful of folks in purple, green and gold, not much was made of that event, either. So perhaps the fact that Ash Wednesday is also being ignored really shouldn’t get under my skin.
And I’d like to say it doesn’t, but the fact that I’ve spent all this time and effort trying to say so rather belies that claim, now, doesn’t it?
Anyway, I should probably just get on with my Wednesday, whether holiday, holy day or just another day. Keep an eye on me, honey, and wish me luck. I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 