I was recently pondering the current ride we are on. Call it what you want, COVID Cruise, Viral Voyage, Pandemic Path, Antibody Adventure...have I mentioned that I adore alliterations? My pondering was prompted by a song on the radio. The song was Bruce Springsteen's Tunnel of Love...go ahead and take a quick trip down memory lane or enjoy it for the first time. Let me make a personal point before we move on. I do not typically listen to lyrics, I just pay attention to the song title, artist and the tune/beat. So, ol' Bruce could singing about Satan worship on the Jersey Shore and I would be clueless, but if it has a good beat, then rock on with some pentagrams in Asbury Park. Having gotten that clarified, then I want to point out that this song and these thoughts have been on my mind since mid-June, so the song and ideas associated with it have been percolating for a while.
Let's run with this...one of Springsteen's lesser known songs as a metaphor for this ongoing Microbial March (got another one in!). "Tunnel of Love" brings back childhood memories of carnival rides and firsts. First time holding hands, first kiss, first time riding a thrilling roller coaster (Hello Scream Machine @ Six Flags over Atlanta!). Looking back fondly. Also looking forward. Graduation, marriage, birthdays, holidays, new adventures, vacations. The Boss presents us with two options...forward and backward. But then, in life, we are encouraged to "never look back", "yesterday is history", "don't get stuck in the past". Also, "be forward thinking", "life must be lived forwards", "define your future". In these binary terms, in minimal verbiage, my COVID Cruise has been empowering (past) and hopeful (future). Empowering in the sense that I have had more time to reflect, research, think deeply, and explore new interests. Hopeful in the sense that this crapola of a ride has to end soon!
But Bruce, what about the side view? Not just the forward and the backward. The "Tunnel of Love" has no side view, but our present does have a side view. This is the true ride....the moment we are in. It is the journey and not the destination. I always have to remind myself to look up and take notice of my surroundings...it is a product of the current "heads-down" culture where we are far too often looking at our phone during the journey. So, let's look up and around. I see the end of summer happenings...back to school blues, hot, sticky days (at least in the South), late afternoon thunderstorms, evening walks, brown lawns, fantasy football drafts, hissing sprinklers. There is joy in these simple reminders of the normal rhythm of the season. What does the side view look like for you?
If we extrapolate this further, then how do we define a good "ride", a great "ride"?. When we look backward, forward, and sideward, what do we see? Is it a good ride?
