I was headed out for a run this morning when I realized that my iPod had not been charged in awhile. This didn’t bother me for me, but rather for Jane, who would be using my iPod later on her 20-mile run.  Jane is training for a full marathon (May 3rd – 3 weeks from today), and today is her long run.  Jane’s iPod is malfunctioning, so she has been using mine.  

I decided to forgo my run with my iPod and charge it for Jane.  And this, my friends, made all the difference in my day.  (Don’t get me wrong… I love my music when I’m running, but this no-iPod day gave me an interesting perspective on life.)

This is what happened.  

I heard flags unfurling, children laughing, church bells ringing in Easter Mass.  I heard the water in my little harbor splashing little hellos.  I heard the Acela from Boston on its way to New York and Washington, D.C. as it swished by.  Lilacs bent to greet me and daffodils smiled… and I heard their happy whispers.  I heard birds whistling and singing and swooping and chasing and loving. I said “good morning” to people and I heard them say “good morning” back.  I heard doors open where grandparents greeted children in their Easter finest.  

I heard myself think.  

And I felt like a kid again.  You know, even before transistor radios… never mind the gadgets we have today to make our lives so easy and so fun and so livable.   And so noisy.

I organized my week.  I composed letters.  I wrote lyrics to my Rap song (yes, I will finish this song!). And I prayed.  I don’t do these things when I am technologically connected.  I sing the songs of other people and mimic the words of other artists.  

Yes, this world is wonderful and full and happy, and all of our gadgets make it so… but my wish for this Easter is for my grandchildren to listen to something else.  Listen to their blessings.

They are everywhere.  And they make us whole.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE… AND A HAPPY DAY TO ALL!!

LISTEN TO YOUR BLESSINGS TODAY!