The short story is based on our cruise.
My husband and I were enjoying our first cruise and had joined the old ship at Bergen. This was at the end of April and the first week in May. We were cruising the ffjords. It was a beutiful trip and we had planned our trips and were looking forward to them. We stopped at many of the towns such as Alesund, Molde, Trondheim, crossing the arctic cirle and passing the Lofoten Islands and heading North as far as Kirknes before heading south again. We had trips to see the sea eagles and did some bird watching. We also visited the Russian border on a four wheeled buggy. The cruise was beautiful but it was even better because of a new passenger who joined this working ship.
One day I noticed a new passenger on the cruise ship. He was a handsome young guy. Wearing dark blue jeans, a jersey and a cheery smile and had boarded just before the arctic circle.
He was doing something, that to me was rather strange. He was laying cables round the ship. A very friendly young man who was very happy to be alive.
I discovered that he had come on board equipped with his own amplifier and saxophone; eager to share his passion for music.
Through his music and passion for the saxophone he shared his beautiful music. His music is classical and he plays it exquisitely developing the mood of the cruise as he feels is appropriate. This young man has such a passion for his music that he looks to the mountains and the water as he plays.
His music is relaxing and beautiful and most of all he believes in it. He stands in the corner of the railing facing the stern of the ship. He is cold so he wearing the coat of the captain which he has baorrowed along with a wooly hat.
When two ships from the same company pass one another it is customary for them to recognize one another by blowing their horns. The power of this young mans music is also enjoyed by other cruise ships as they passed by. The passengers are lining the decks and you can tell they are enjoying as they wave and clap as the ship sales by.
He remained on board the ship over night so was able to play well into the evening and also part of the next morning.
Alas his visit to our cruise ship was all too short. He left quietly at another port just beyond the arctic circle. He would board another ship so so that passengers could enjoy the benefit of his amazing talent.
This is his job and he told his story to interested passengers. It was amazing to hear that he had given up a good teaching job in Norway. This did not fill his inner need. He wanted to develop his music and passion and wanted to pass it on to cruise ship passengers. He was able to join passengers for lunch and we were able to chat with him briefly and he let us know he loved what he was doing and it was not for the money. His desire was to help others.
I hadn't, seen a street musician but a boat musician.
