Last week, my dear husband (DH) and I took a two-day cruise on the river boat 'Spirit of Peoria' on the Illinois River. It was a musical event, too, because it was a Ragtime Cruise, with three ragtime pianists. We got to enjoy lots of ragtime, alternating with other old-time music for variety.

In addition, there was a singer on board, a man who played guitar, dobro and banjo. I know he was 40 years old and had the limitations of his upbringing, but did he have to follow 'House of the Rising Sun' with 'Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald'?

Yes, the old guy in the straw hat led a singalong, and of course I sang along. It occurred to me that if you had recorded the sound of the passengers singing, you would think the people were twenty years old. Instead, they were 60, 70 or 80. It would be interesting for medical science to investigate that.   

When it comes to travel, the DH and I have our differences. He dreams of a transatlantic flight and a visit to the world's great art museums. I dream of a two-hour car ride and a visit to a small town. This trip represented the middle ground, We took the train, and then a bus. Despite the rumors I hear about the bus, there were no bums aboard, the bus was immaculate, and the passengers seemed quite normal.   

We had some good bird-watching: egrets, pelicans, bald eagles, coots, ducks, gulls, great blue herons and one flock of cedar waxwings. (Apparently most of the small birds had headed south already.) We had snow our second day, and from inside the boat, it looked very charming.

Now I look with longing to October, 2014, when the 'Belle of Louisville' (another paddle boat) celebrates its 100th year. Man, is there going to be a party! All the river boats are going to be there, and there will be music and barbecue, and I-don't-know-what all.

Check it out.