Erin's Journals

Just a thought… It doesn’t matter where you go, it’s who you have beside you. [Author Unknown]

You can watch a video version of this journal on my Facebook page, or here on YouTube.

Well, we’re home, along with our luggage (more on that Thursday). And I hope you enjoy some pictures I couldn’t wait to share, taken from our home-away-from-home for one week, the stately AMASerena, part of the fleet of Ama Waterways’ gorgeous river boats.

Some of our group arrived in Europe earlier to explore the Netherlands, but Rob and I began our journey in Victoria, flying the smooth 10 hours from Vancouver to Frankfurt. From there we were hustled by bus and eventually ran to our gate; with long lines at customs we made it with just minutes to spare on to our one-hour flight to Amsterdam (a hair-raising experience we’d repeat in Frankfurt on our way home; more on that to come another day).

After a nap, we connected with our dear pal Mike Cooper over dinner at a brasserie. (Imagine how disappointed Mike was when he learned “brasserie” and “brassiere” were two different things. Oh, Mike.)

We had much catching up to do – and, of course, laughing, hugging and telling stories (some of them actually true)!

We had breakfast in our hotel, that Anantara Grand‘s lovely winter garden atrium.

Then we packed up and headed to the AMASerena. Our group was comprised of mostly couples who’d booked the ‘Erin & Mike on the Rhine’ trip; but I guarantee you everyone else had fun with us, too.

We gathered for dinners; Mike and I each hosted a table of ten every night with wonderful folks who hung on for nearly three years (through two postponements) until this river cruise finally took place.

During our stops, we did a bit of shopping and had some outings that may or may not have included more food (this was waffles, cherries and dairy two ways in Rudesheim).

Cycling, bus and walking tours were offered, but what really drew us all in was the scenery: the chance to cruise along the Rhine River. Visually dramatic with its geological and historical treasures, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the largest and oldest cultural landscapes in Europe.

If one kept count, there were some 20+ castles and the views were spectacular. What a way to spend just part of a day!

The social highlight once again this second and final cruise with us was the dance held on Friday night. Even after a long day of sight-seeing and cycling, our group was still ready for a great time dancing and laughing. Yes, there were masks worn on the dance floor, and at one point, a bra being held aloft over the dance floor (not mine) but it was a fantastic time, thanks to the DJ, my Rob, of course, and the incomparable (and, yes, very sweaty) Mike Cooper.

Thanks for coming by. When I come back here on Thursday, what this trip taught me, after years of travelling with listeners who became friends. But for now, I’ll wish you a wonderful week. By the way, there’ll be a new Drift story tomorrow: my kinder, gentler retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Do join me, won’t you? 

Hello My Friend: 

I had hoped to post a new written journal for you here, but some extenuating circumstances (such as two missing suitcases) prevented me from doing as good a job as I would like. Besides, I (okay, we) have about four loads of wash to do!

In its stead I have a link for you to a little video (very brief) shot in the incomparable Rhine River Gorge, with a shot of two castles in one moment…and a whole lot of peace. What the world, and our souls, need now more than ever.

Be well, have a safe and happy weekend and I’ll be back with a full journal – and lots of photos – here on Monday!

Erin

Just a thought… Teach your children to dream big, that the sky is the limit and that anything is possible if they want it bad enough. [Billy Cox]

You can watch a video version of this journal (and you’ll want to today) on my Facebook page, or here on YouTube.

Hey there and hello from somewhere on the beautiful Rhine in Europe – likely in Germany, where we spend most of the week. I have for you today a video that I’m just so thrilled to be sharing.

It’s not our two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter Jane playing Mozart. I mean, I’m sure she could if she wanted; the way she runs for the piano the minute she gets in our front door is a joy to behold! (Okay, maybe not.)

Colin? Well, let’s say that seven-year-old Colin doesn’t have Jane’s musical enthusiasm. We had fully hoped that with Lauren’s and Phil’s talents, we had the makings of the next James Taylor or Taylor Swift. Nope…that doesn’t seem to be in the cards. Maybe LeBron James or Jonathan Swift, given his skill set, but probably not a musician. So that’s why one of his answers here came as a surprise. I did suppress my laughter; who am I to question his ambitions? Our job is to encourage, enable and applaud. Or gently usher into another lane, if the opportunity or need arises.

Anyway, enjoy this candid lunchtime conversation and I’ll be back one week today with a new journal for you. Monday we’ll be flying, so I know you’ll understand me missing one. There WILL be a new Drift with Erin Davis sleep story on Tuesday June 7^th. I love this one: it’s called The Necklace, which I’ve also titled, “The Jewel of Denial,” about a woman who just can’t be happy with what she has, and oh, the price she pays! It’s a good one. Take care, my friend, and have a lovely weekend, won’t you?

Just a thought… Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. [Neale Donald Walsch]

As always, you can watch a video version of this journal on my Facebook page, or here on YouTube.

Before I get going, I’ll tell you that even though I’m out of the country, there IS a new Drift with Erin Davis sleep story coming tomorrow since it’s Tuesday, for free, wherever you download your podcasts. Appropriately, given my coordinates, it’s The Good Ship Rover about a little boy who’s ailing, but finds hope by the seaside. A lovely tale.

Thanks so much for joining me here – even though I’m not even “here.” As I write this, I’m on an AMA Waterways river cruise with my dear friend and recent birthday boy Mike Cooper and several dozen former listeners, many of whom were with us on our last trip three years ago during tulip time in Amsterdam.

We didn’t hit our goal of taking over the entire river boat this time; there were people who had to cancel as the trip got postponed and rescheduled again and again. I was to the point where I didn’t know if we would actually go, or if I wanted to, for that matter, but bless Gerry Koolhof and New Wave Travel in Toronto, they actually made it happen. We’re stepping through Covid; not over, but through, and treading carefully. And the best news is that we’re meeting a whole lot of new friends who signed up after seeing what a great time we had the last time around.

I hope to post pictures or upload to my social media sites on Facebook, Twitter and maybe even Instagram, as we slowly sail along, but honestly, I don’t know what the internet on board will allow and how successful I will be, so I can’t make any promises. I am writing and remembering so I have stories to share with you.

We’re seeing the sights along the Rhine and the spots on the map here.

The whole bunch of us will talk and laugh, walk and cycle and gather, hopefully safely, day after day. Rob and I fly home from Switzerland on Monday with an awful four-hour wait at the end in Vancouver for our little flight to our island home. It’s such a short flight that we can practically swim home from that airport where we’ll be stuck. Anyway, then we’ll catch our breath, adjust our body clocks and dive into another busy week.

This Thursday, I really want you to come back because I have a very special little video of a chat I had with Colin. It’s so perfectly adorable – so very HIM – and it broke my heart to watch it again and again as I thought of families in Texas in the light of last week’s tragedy.

We live in gratitude and in the moment; we try not to let fear lead the way. I promise you I was masked on the flights no matter who looked at me sideways, and Rob and I will be as safe as we can be.

We’ll be back here Thursday with that video. May these last two days of May be peaceful and nothing but smooth sailing.

Just a thought… Sunshine is said to be the best of disinfectants. [Louis D. Brandeis]

As always, you can watch a video version of this journal on my Facebook page, or here on YouTube.

Where to begin? What a week! From all of the emotions here in our home about a seismic revelation in Toronto radio to yet another horrific, senseless shooting in the US – this one of children about the same age as our beloved Colin. I have no words, because there are none. Until action is taken, they’re just words and they’re worthless.

We’re not blameless in Canada. There are murders and tragedies and hate crimes and insane people fuelled by nothing but bigotry and the darkest of intentions. But please, for the love of our children, don’t allow politicians and other people who feel they need more “freedoms” here, in one of the world’s freest countries by official and any rankings, any oxygen. We do not need more guns, better access and fewer regulations and steps. Just, NO.

Plenty of our systems are in need of repair, but this week, one is starting to see at least the illusion of change. I’m talking about the industry that gave me my life, my husband and, eventually, our daughter, and everything that we have: radio.

You’ve undoubtedly seen the fallout from the Jennifer Valentyne video I linked you to here on Tuesday. The man to whom she referred, John Derringer, has been suspended pending an investigation of allegations; any trace of him is gone from the Q107 website.

I had the opportunity to do an interview with The Canadian Press yesterday. I could write a book about the behind-the-scenes garbage that went on – and goes on – in radio to this day, but I had just a few minutes to talk about my experiences.

In that brief time, I said repeatedly that I’m in awe of Jenn’s courage in coming forth with this complaint to the Human Rights Commission and even opening this discussion. And of my CHFI successor, Maureen Holloway, as well as Andrea Rooz and Jacqui Delaney – all powerful women in their own right – and countless others (including men) who have added their voices to the outrage this week about how this 2,000 pound gorilla allegedly had his way with the people around him for over 5,000 shows. “Why?” people ask. “Why did it go on for so long?” It’s SO simple: he made the company money. A lot of it.

Countless women have written to me this week and shared their own stories of discrimination in all walks of life: of not being listened to or told not to upset the applecart. Until two decades ago, that was my job: shut up, do the show and don’t make waves.

Well, the waves are here and it’s a tsunami. I like to imagine there are a lot of people these days nervously thinking, I wonder if my name will come up. The good and decent ones – managers and talent alike – have not lost any sleep. The rest? Well, they should ask themselves why it is that when chickens come home to roost, they’re never good chickens?

We’re not chicken anymore.

I’ll be back with a journal on Monday. Thanks for sharing this with me, as you have so many momentous events in this life. I’m grateful. And I’m really REALLY grateful to Jennifer Valentyne.