It’s been three days since we returned from our cruise and while I learned something new about Iceland and Denmark, I also had my opinions reinforced by two groups of people: People who deserve respect and those who deserve rejection.
To the Never Cruisers, I am reminded of an old TV interview with Val Kilmer on Regis and Kathy Lee. Val told Regis he lived on a ranch in New Mexico, two hours from civilization. Regis replied: “I could never live there!” to which Val replied: “No, Regis, I don’t think you could.”
As I sit here with Covid, I realize any of us can get it anywhere. The Never Cruisers who call it a Petri dish, visit places with everyday threats and exposure, and to them, I say: “Then don’t go!” I take risks and expect the NC’s to just sit back and not be judgy.
But back to the thought behind this piece. People who cruise or travel by foot, or train seem to forget that staff are not invisible. They serve; they are not servants.
Arrogance knows no particular citizenship. Anyone can, and often is, forgetful that hard work, savings, etc. put them in that cabin or hotel room. They are not entitled, they are not owed anything and they certainly are not better than anyone else.
As a volunteer at the airport, I have met these people often. When I approach them, they see me as a ‘worker’ who does not deserve their time or acknowledgment. I am here to help.
Cruisers are no different. The bartender is often earning money to go back to their country and open a bar. The restaurant server, chef, or host is thinking of earning experience to go back to their country and open their own place. The ‘stewardesses,’ which is what they call the housekeeping staff, take great pride in making their guests happy and are willing to do whatever they can or need to do. In a hotel, the maid is often invisible and 90% of people do not leave any gratuity at the end of their stay. The baggage handler is taking care of your luggage and is doing their best to ensure your bags arrive safely. The TSA folks who, admittedly don’t break a smile too often, all those ‘annoying’ questions are to protect all of us.
Every cruise line has people who react with a “do you know who I am,” to reinforce their imagined standing and place in the world. I once had a guy at an MTV Music Awards come up to me at the Universal Amphitheater backstage, all haughty, and when not on the list, asked if I knew who he was. I did not so I got on the headsets and told the others: “I have a guy here who does not know who he is. Perhaps someone can come here and help him out.”
Everyone is overworked and overstressed. Give them a break. As the often controversial Louis C.K. said: “Self-love is a good thing but self-awareness is more important. You need to once in a while go ‘Uh, Maybe I’m kind of an asshole.”
First, so sorry that you have COVID again. Second, well said. People can be putzes and they forget that all hard working people are deserving of our gratitude and respect. I often think of how we forget that there are folks cleaning the toilets we use at public places and others doung jobs that are often taken for granted. Thanks for reminding us of all these folks. Get well soon!
Amen, brother. I will never forget the weekends I did day labor at a certain North Shore country club because my wife was pregnant and we didn’t have insurance. Two golfers walked by the tennis courts where we were laying out clay and started to laugh at us and call us losers. They were in their 40s, and that was 40 years ago. I win.