It is 61 degrees in February. Recently, we had 10 inches of snow. The weather is never boring. We have made it through Valentine’s Day successfully. Mardi Gras is tomorrow, and then Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. The French Quarter illustrated to me that it is okay to be happy. We carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. We must be all things to all people. An impossible task.

Life is meant to be lived. It is possible to live in despair and become accustomed to the feeling. Our identity is highlighted by our words and actions. ‘As a man thinks, so is he.’ Could it be that it is possible to stop identifying with sorrow and start identifying with joy? That would be a worthy mission. Sackcloth and ashes will not make us holy. Reflection and change will.

Laughter is infectious. Even fake laughter has been shown to improve health. The Old Man laughed many times in the French Quarter. The spirit of laughter was everywhere. Suffering does not have to be followed by sorrow. After tears can come joy.

There is a myth that when you encounter hard times, you should reflect on the suffering for the rest of your days on Earth. The Old Man noticed with great interest that the joyful people of the French Quarter were happy, yet their faces revealed suffering. There was joy in their music and song. Their celebration connected with the angels. There was a touch of the Divine.

The precious people of the French Quarter revealed what it was to dance with the Angels. They were not concerned with the popular political programs of the day, but the joy of being alive on Earth. So it goes we must strive to avail ourselves of the joy of living. Doomsday Preppers fear and plan for the end of the world, when in fact the world will end for each of us in a few years. Why not enjoy the ride? We hold on tight. We scream for joy coupled with fear. What is around the next corner has not been revealed. But we see what is before us and can cheer for the gift of life, love, peace, and harmony.