Remembering a 'Titanic' Event

This weekend, Saturday night and early Sunday morning, marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. My grandfather, who would be 99 now, would not be born for another 5 months, in September. So long ago, and while most of us have no actual memory of this event, we've heard about it all of our lives. I will probably commemorate the event by watching a Titanic movie this weekend.

Some wonder why we have this need to dwell on catastrophic events like this? I suppose the fact that she was the largest and most opulent ship of her time, that she was deemed "unsinkable," that so many lives were lost, that the tragedy in some ways foreshadowed the gloom that would envelope old Europe with WWI just two years later, make this event so unique to us, as well as remind us that life is precious, and that we should never think too highly of ourselves. That's my take on it anyway!

If you ever take one of our London extensions, you could make a day trip to Southampton, England, the home port of Titanic's White Star Line. She is an international maritime city, from which today ships like the new Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mary 2 set sail. Or, if you're on our Ireland & Scotland Tour, you could venture north to Belfast, Northern Ireland, to see the shipyard where she was built with such hope and pride. Whatever way you choose to remember the Titanic, think of how it can inspire you to appreciate life and move forward even in difficult times.

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