Pushing through the water, Cat Steven’s rendition of “Morning Has Broken” runs through my mind and I sing:
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world.
Then turning around with a backstroke, the Sun full on in my face, Rupert Holmes “Escape” aka “If You Like Piña Coladas” comes to mind. I laugh and begin to sing the refrain, but then I stop and join my sweet Rottie, Ebony, on the top step. Her early morning kisses are the best and she always listens to me–as long as I don’t ask her to do too much, but that’s another story.
Now, where was I? Oh, yes!
Do you like piña coladas? Getting caught in the rain? Do you like making love at midnight, in the dunes of the cape? Of course, you do. It’s hot outside; the waves are crashing into the rocks. You’ve got an old CD playing, and viewing the sunset with ten of your closest friends, in a circle of lawn chairs; the beer, wine, and gin are flowing where we dare to dance. And Rupert Holmes makes you forget about life for a while.
But, honestly, thinking about those lyrics and neither partner knew what the other liked or disliked–no way would that work out and be a happily ever after, unless. . .
And there’s the catch. The what-ifs we all live with. The regrets that can pile up and color our perceptions about life, our place on this planet and, ultimately, our deeply felt needs for connection, and truth, and honor in our lives remain unfulfilled.
Changing all of that is literally in our hands. It is up to us to change. To grow. To renew and live with integrity. Others can’t do it for us. We can only do it for ourselves.
We love.
We grow.
We thrive.
Blessed Summer Solstice! Blessed be
Cynthia Cebuhar