Of Geese, Horses, Rock Stars and Babies -- Best Moments in Life

Best moments in life?  Sometimes they are simply the sun coming out after a drenching rain.

And sometimes they are in observing new (and important) alliances being formed -- in this case, Bozi at top of rock with John and Mary nearby.

And sometimes its seeing those who have experienced recent loss, return to their "old selves" again -- in this case, Napoleon and Josephine at Harlem Meer.

 Sometimes, we are asked the question, "What are the best moments of your life?"

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The moments, in some cases, can be quite ordinary and mundane. But, there is something magical, healing, surprising or particularly harmonizing about them that brings  special sense and awareness of bliss and happiness.

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I am blessed to having experienced many moments like that in life -- including one this past Friday.

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I went to Central Park around sunset. -- Something done thousands of times over the years and certainly not unusual.

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Friday was, however, immediately special because it is a holiday (Memorial Day Weekend) and  many New Yorkers are out of town.

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The park was surprisingly and pleasantly quiet and peaceful.

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Perhaps it was even more quiet because of the intermittent and lightly falling rain.

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Still, even nicer than the seeming disappearance of rushing crowds, was the discovery that Bozi (the now widowed gander at the Reservoir) was not quite so isolated and "alone" as first feared.

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Over the past few days, Bozi and John and Mary (the goose pair whose eggs had been oiled and failed to hatch at west side of Reservoir) have been peacefully sharing the same general space in the water.

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Though there has been some "honking" communications between the two ganders, they seem to have worked out any would-be territorial or hierarchy disputes and appear to respectfully accept each other's presence -- at least for now.

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Though not a "flock" in the sense that most people perceive that word, it seems that if choosing to tag along with and be "odd goose out" to the mated goose pair, Bozi will not be harshly rebuffed or run out of the water.  

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That is hopeful sign for this now loner goose.

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I was relieved in observing this new turn in events. But, it wasn't the only pleasant surprise of the day.

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Even greater surprise was going to Harlem Meer and discovering three new goose pairs (in addition to Napoleon and Josephine who, like John and Mary at Reservoir, also recently lost their eggs).

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Its not clear whether recent rain storms blew in the six new geese or they just ventured in on their own -- perhaps to celebrate the holiday weekend.  But it was a great joy to see them!

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Harlem Meer has seemed so lifeless and waterbird-empty in recent days. -- like a big swimming pool with nobody in it.  

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But, even nicer to see was Napoleon and Josephine appearing to be more themselves once again -- Napoleon giving gentle chase to the newcomers with his "cheerleading" mate spurring him on. 

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Though he would never admit it, I think Napoleon was happy to see other geese again. It gave him a "job" to do in terms of claiming territory and defending his lady while Ms. Josephine likes to establish herself as the uncontested Queen of Harlem Meer.

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For their part, the new geese generally respected the social hierarchy at the Meer and did not offer a whole lot of challenge to the dominant goose pair (though they did not turn tail and fly out either). 

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But, then came the true bliss moment for me.

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It came while sitting down and watching the geese peacefully work out their spaces on the water while at the same time, listening to the overture from "Carousel" on my M3P player.

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In that moment, there was this perfect synchronization between sound and vision, the music blending in perfect lilting and uplifting harmony with what was being seen and felt.

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It was an ordinary moment, but completely joyous in its connection to world around one in all its splendor and harmony.

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I was temporarily uplifted -- as if floating through clouds with music and beauty all around and gently enveloping.

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Other particularly blissful and special moments in life?

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Going to an upstate dude ranch many years ago with friends for horseback riding.

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It was a brisk and sunny day in April and I was in the presence of good, fun company.

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But, what made this day so "out of this world" special was a horse named, "Gypsy."

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I had never been riding before and didn't know the first thing about it.

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But, Gypsy knew what to do and apparently enjoyed doing it.

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Once we entered the woods, Gypsy joyfully broke into a canter and for what seemed time suspended, we (horse and rider) were quite literally flying through the forest.

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The experience was dream-like in the sense of flowing without body, blood or muscle through time, space and energy.  It was also this perfect connection -- almost as being one - with not just another life form, but also the forest, the air and indeed, the earth itself.

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If I had to guess what heaven must be like, this was surely it.    

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Finally returning back to the dude ranch, country music drifted through the air -- and even that was in perfect synchronization with everything else around.  A nice lunch, jokes and laughter with friends and it all added up to one of the three best days of my life.

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As for the other two?

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One was a bitterly, frigid day in February (1966) with snow falling and ice on the ground.

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My then boyfriend claimed to be ill at the last minute and could not take me to the Bob Dylan concert at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island that I so looked forward to.

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Though he gave me the tickets, I had no one to go with.

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That is, until my 70-year-old grandmother offered to accompany me.

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The trip from Manhattan required several subway changes and a long bus ride in blizzard-like conditions.   There was so much ice on the ground and cutting, swirling winds and snow that even I at 19 years of age, had trouble navigating.

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But, my grandmother never complained. --  Quite the stoic trooper was she.

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We finally made it to the concert and my grandmother (who didn't know a thing about Dylan) sat through it with all the rapt attention of a Dylan devotee. 

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"That was nice!" she said at the concert's end, though I am quite sure she didn't understand any of Dylan's dark and cynical lyrics.

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It may seems strange to say that a brutal winter's night and the searing words of a Dylan concert would represent part of life's most "blissful" or happy moments, but nothing quite said love more than my grandmother's willing sacrifice to put herself out on one of the worst nights in NYC history soley for the happiness and pleasure of her grand daughter.

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My grandmother was a very remarkable woman. I was very blessed to have her in my life.

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But, of course the best moment (and day) of probably most parents lives is the day that life you have been carrying inside for nine months, finally decides to enter the world.

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So it was for me.

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My daughter, Tara apparently decided to arrive two weeks early -- or immediately following the New Year's celebration of 1975.  So early was she, I almost had her in the house, convinced I was experiencing "false labor." 

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Fortunately, the doctor ordered me to get to the hospital.

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I could say the joy was in being awake and aware through my daughter's delivery and/or pulling out my camera to take Tara's first photos.

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But, to be perfectly honest, the real pleasure finally came when being wheeled into the Recovery Room and demanding a cup of coffee!  

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"Please, please, get me some coffee!  I haven't had any in nine months!"

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(Morning sickness throughout pregnancy had caused violent illness when even attempting a sip of coffee.)

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And oh, the sheer joy of that first sip of coffee after nine month's deprivation!

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Yes, the very best day of my life -- in more ways than one. 

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And so it seems, the best days and moments of our lives are those in which one has suffered some type of loss, deprivation or disappointment before, only to be surprised by some sudden upturn in experience, connection and love. 

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And sure, while coffee cannot truly be comparable to "connection and love," it is one of life's little pleasures  -- like geese, horses and rock concerts -- that so many of us treasure and couldn't fully enjoy life without.  -- PCA

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