January 13, 2026

Swanboats Forever

In search of some relief from this insanity of the current adminsistration, I think back to one of the most serene ten minutes available in this world — a ride on the swan boats. My mother would take me (after a lunch at Lord and Taylor’s) to the Boston Gardens and we would stand in line for a few minutes, then gently push our way on to “the boat”, really a row of benches on a platform, attached to a large plastic swan, in which was seated a young college guy, who would effortlessly pedal us out through the water, (swish, swish, swish) around the dovecote (doves and pigeons only), thence to the other end of the little pond to swing around the island (ducks and swans only) and thence back to the dock, where we all politely walked off and the cycle would begin again.

Civilization at its best since 1877. Keep going. Hang in there. My great grandchildren will be grateful.