Bobby Mcferrin and a Great Ride

Sometimes, if you're really lucky, you can find peace even when there's bothersome turmoil in your soul. It might be a smile from a dear friend, or perhaps simply the golden reflection of a Harvest Moon dancing across ocean waves calmly moving toward a long sandy beachfront.

Last night I was blessed to have both comforts. My sister, Marie, and her wonderful husband, Bill, hosted me in their York, Maine home as I was enroute for a couple of days of New England foliage riding. Marie had prepared a fine Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding. It was a gastronomic orgy for three, made even more complete with a lovely Tuscan Red followed by a Tawny Port.

We then walked down to the beach to join the town's Harvest Moon Bonfire. As Marie and Bill danced to the band, and flames shot skyward, I found myself lost in happy thoughts of times past and times to come. Peace wrapped its arms around me, and I was ready to let go of current concerns.

This morning I found an isolated tiny little road around bays and rivers that led me south into Portsmouth, NH, where I was to join my cousin for another day of riding. I was just cruising along this little twisting road marveling at the waters and plants surrounding me. "Wow," was a word that kept slipping out of me.

I thought of another who I knew would adore this road. A hawk crossed my path, above me of course, and my headphones suddenly started playing Bobby Mcferrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy." I laughed and started singing along.

Today was just too beautiful to allow anything but joy to flow through the mind. I joined my cousin, we added three others to our group, and then rode to Wolfboro, NH, where we enjoyed a lovely lunch stop at the historic Wolfboro Inn (one of my favorite little Inns on "The Lake"). We were ready to circumnavigate the Lake when I called home to see what time I needed to be home to prepare my usual Sunday night feast for my retired Priest friend.

To my terrible surprise I learned that my son Sean had suffered an injury at University, including a fractured wrist, and that he was on the way home to see a specialist. That ended my idyllic day. I separated from my friends and returned home.

Sean is actually doing well. He broke his wrist, yes, but he might have learned a good lesson about being more careful. Some lessons in life hurt more than others. In the end, however, we learn more from our failures than from our successes. So I look at it as a good thing.

Just as Bobby M says, "Don't Worry, Be Happy."