There’s no other way to put it. I love the Beatles for the passion and reverence they created in a generation looking for something extraordinary. John, Paul, George and Ringo were that. A craze. Beatle mania. It was over the top exciting to this young girl. The Ed Sullivan Show was a must-see whenever there was a rock group headlining. Concerts were not yet a “thing” and we had to see our magical musicians in the only way we could. The Beach Boys, The Monkeys, The Dave Clark Five, Elvis, and so many more.
The rock ‘n roll music world took up residence in the hearts, minds and spirits of a generation and changed the landscape of cross-generational music. It spoke to our fears and concerns, our rebellious and anti-establishment fever, our commitment to love, peace and a different way. Little did we suspect that all these years later we’d be singing the same tunes with our children and their children.
Life is like that. A flash of inspiration and everything changes. Something unthought of is thought of and our gigantic world becomes so much smaller. The internet. Personal Computers. These have been the instruments of change for the generation that followed ours. We pay the price for these explosions of creativity when the unintended consequences become clear as we look back. Too many magically creative young people lost to drugs, Viet Nam, and shattered dreams. Too many more sucked into a virtual world that has no idea how to feed the soul.
A NEW LEG ON THE TOUR
Two months ago my husband of 37 years was diagnosed with IBM (Inclusion Body Myositis), a muscle wasting disease with no known cause or cure. Bam! Our world is upended and the life we were planning evaporated before our eyes. Life is a magical mystery tour, and as I search for a silver lining where it is unimaginable that there is one, I am reminded that the way through is often simply one foot in front of the other.
I prayed for a miracle. Just once, a plea via my Spiritual Direction Group. I asked the Universe for a miracle because I have no idea how we will make it through otherwise, and because my heart is shattering in a million pieces and its only the beginning of this part of the magical mystery tour called life. Caroline Myss reminded me that we only have to ask once for a miracle, then we can go on and live our life. It’s done. And, so I have. My prayer hangs in the universe awaiting a reply.
IN SEARCH OF A MIRACLE
Releasing my plea into the universe brought an unexpected gift, a multitude of personal responses from people I’ve never met face to face, but who understand my heart and speak the language of my soul. They offered prayers and insights, compassion and tears and their outpouring lifted me up and carried me here. Perhaps that is my miracle. Perhaps that is what the universe is offering me as compensation for the loss my husband and I are living. It is enough, but it is not all and I will not abandon hope for something more. After all, ours is an incredibly abundant universe. All we have to do is envision it, align our energy with our vision, watch and wait. I believe that with almost every fiber of my being. I’m working on the few strands that still want to hang on to doubt and fear.
A step toward unraveling this particular leg of the magical mystery tour is moving my personal blog from Aging Abundantly to here. I don’t want to talk about aging anymore. Others are doing it better with more energy and focus. I’ve said all I can say for now, both in my blogs and my books. Though I’m not sure what it is, I’m heading in a different direction, a fork in the road.
OPEN DOORS
When one door closes, another opens. Here’s to new beginnings. I hope you’ll join me here; take what you can from what I am learning and will share here. I know I learn so much from others, from writers and teachers and lovers of life, I hope in some tiny way to leave a nugget here for you.