Many funny little things occur on a vacation cruise. Jokes and puns. Situations and confusions. Few are documented and most are forgotten. However, every so often, there is one for posterity. Today’s lunch conversation provided such a one.
Peg, Rob and I joined an 8-top table, sitting in that order at one end of the table. Seated on Peg’s left was one of the more seasoned Grand Circle travellers, Howard, on his thirtieth trip. To my right were two female friends, Sara and Martha, traveling together.
Sara and I were engaged in an animated conversation on diverse topics which eventually led to her asking what was the relationship between the three of us.
I mentioned that Rob and I were spouses and that Peg was our mutual friend.
“Oh,” she remarked quietly,” I thought she was your mother!”
OMG!
Stifling laughter, I whispered, “Don’t let her hear you say that!”
Of course, I immediately passed this exchange on to Rob!
Not essential to this narrative, but commanding my attention (and highly complimentary to us), it came to light that she and I are the same age. Taken aback by this news, she and her friend became quite effusive on how much younger both Rob and I looked than our ages.
That is when I noticed Rob convulsing in stifled laughter next to me.
Peg had just informed him that Howard, after asking and learning how the three of us came to be traveling together, said to her, “Oh. I thought you were their mother!”
Peg needless to say, was less than delighted.
I believe the word is devastated.
Romance of the Rhine & Mosel 