Sometimes when I have a moment “between the busys,” I still think about those BIG questions like, “Why am I here?” “What’s my purpose?” “Why?” Oh yes, I know it would seem absurd to many—especially young people–if they knew I had such thoughts. After all, I’m not twenty! I’m not even forty! But I’m still thinking about them . . . and I have a feeling that others like me, from the “boomer” generation, do too! For, the truth is, we may seem old to many, but we’re all still just kids in “wrinklier skin.” We still get hurt by the same things. We’re still afraid of the same things. We still love the same things. We just don’t tell!

Anyhow, at this point, unfortunately, I really haven’t discovered any BIG answers to those BIG questions. But I have come to some smaller conclusions which I’d like to share . . . and have my reader consider. In sum, I do believe that when we were “evicted” from the Garden of Eden, we, with great forethought and compassion, were given three things the BOSS (the one who created and then evicted us) knew would stand us in good stead on the oftentimes difficult road we would travel: a sense of humor, a love of music, and Toto. Why these three?

Well, for example, let’s take humor. When we laugh we are actually looking at a problem from a new and objective perspective. Indeed, we are “standing back” and seeing this treacherous skyscraper of a “mountain” we’ve made turn into a lowly “nothing much” of a “molehill.” In consequence, our ability to cope with it—whatever the “it” is—magically and instantaneously appears. We suddenly feel strong. We begin to believe we can conquer whatever the problem is. No, it’s no wonder at all that in the worst of times people MUST laugh! If not, the pain, the weight of anguish, would be too great! Thus laughter is a vital, life-giving escape, a safety valve, a NECESSITY! I’m sure it keeps us all SANE! (I’ve never seen people who suffer from mental illness laugh!) Think about it!

Then there’s music. Have you ever noticed how when you listen to music, I mean REALLY LISTEN, it takes you to another place! It can make you happy when you are sad, helping you leave behind a world “too much with us” to soar beyond it! Then again, if you like, it can allow you to “explore” your sadness. (There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s probably good to “investigate” the “why” of your feelings. What’s psychiatry all about anyway?) In short, music helps us dream . . . and, according to those in the know, dreaming is important! We don’t know why exactly yet . . . but there’s lots of research going on about it. Meanwhile, I’ve also read that for those truly troubled, music is the only thing that can still reach out to them . . . wherever in their minds they’ve gone to. Yes, music is truly a gift that helps us continue “being.”

Finally, there’s Toto. Who’s Toto? It’s that little dog that came out of the forest to be with us. It’s our most faithful companion who will NEVER leave us. It’s the one who is happy with us . . . and when nothing else helps, it’s that little dog that will kiss your nose and lick your cheek telling you in your sadness, “I understand. I’m with you for always . . . We’ll play again, you and I. Just wait and see. I’m waiting . . . see . . .”
(P.S. My little dog’s name is “Momele.”)