Drama in US reinforced the important things

LIKE many, I was concerned with the news coming out of the United States over Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Modern forms of communications made is so easy to keep up to date with the drama as it PEOPLE playing music from their phones on the bus annoy Nigel.

To make matters worse, on this trip, his son Tony, who has physical disabilities and is all but unable to communicate, started to get upset about something.

Then the boy who had been playing his repetitive dance music at the back of the bus came and sat beside them.

Flicking through the choices he found Hakuna Matata from The Lion King, Let It Go from Frozen, and The Bear Necessities from The Jungle Book – all songs that Tony loves. Soon he was rocking along to the music.

So, Nigel has decided to go a little easier on phone music players in the future. You never know when a “sick beat” might hide a good heart. unfolded. Thankfully, it all ended well.

Trisha’s flight from London arrived safely in San Francisco. Her mother’s emergency heart operation had been a success and she was able to hold her hand and cuddle her as she came around from the anaesthetic.

Oh, and there was an election as well. No doubt it was important. But while politicians strut their stuff and play powergames the really important things in life go on regardless – like love and family. AN old legend has a painting of peace actually being a tumultuous war scene – with a dove flying through a patch of blue sky high above the chaos. The idea being that peace is only properly appreciated when we also have noise and conflict.

Which is where Will was on Bonfire Night with rockets banging and scaring his two-year-old granddaughter. But he couldn’t leave the display as the rest of the family were enjoying it.

So, he stepped back, cuddled the child into him, then started singing the children’s song Ally Bally Bee.

“Ah, but it was beautiful,” Will told me in a croaky whisper. “She was content and it was peace amidst the chaos. It was worth losing my voice for!”

If you’re despondent, feeling low,

And life seems hard to bear, If disappointment lands a blow,

And each day brings despair; Just count your blessings, be they few,

Then smile and dry your eyes, There’s nothing gained by feeling blue,

So let your spirits rise; Onwards, upwards, hear the call, Seize each day and give your all.