The Thursday Ramble: Three Crossings

For me, there is a romance about crossing the Atlantic Ocean by ship, this is my third time. My paternal grandmother, crossed the Atlantic three times by ship. I pulled her diary out of my cabinet of treasures. She arrived in New York May 18, 1910 on the Majestic, went back to England in October of 1912 on the Lusitania, and then back to New York in August of 1913 on the Adriatic. 

Why back and forth for her. Her father came to New York to work on subway tunnels and the family joined him. He then took a job in Mexico and sent the family back to live with family in London while he worked that job, and they re-joined him in New York when that contract was over. I asked her about sterrage and Ellis Island and was surprised by her answer. They traveled second class, above the water line in private cabins with meals in the dining room. Her father had arranged visas for them, so they didn't stop at Ellis Island, but went to the piers in Manhattan.  Her passage was not first class like the movie Titanic, but much nicer than most immigrant classes. 

There was something wistful about the way she and my great-grandmother talked about the crossing. Something that made me really want to do this. 

So here I am on my third transAtlantic crossing by ship. Having known my grandmother and great-grandmother, it is special. I think they would be pleased that I have done this. 

I am on a digital detox. This post was written ahead of time and scheduled to appear today. I have not missed posting at least once per day in over a decade. While on this detox, I will not have internet access many days, when I do have access it will be limited. Please continue to leave comments, but I may not reply to comments. I will read comments when I can. Normal service will resume in late May.