Olives and Chicken Wings

I sit having a gin and tonic on a wooden deck overlooking Boston Harbor on a hot summer evening. The sun now finds it's way through the buildings and hits the white sails of the two and three masted ships on the same side as the wind that pushes them toward the outer islands.  The ferries come and go, crisscrossing from shore to shore. The harbor cruises chug in lazy circles, with more boisterous crowds, drinking and laughing, full of vacationers from Detroit who are amazed to find Boston so warm, sunny and welcoming.

Life is not always  mean. Certainly not mine. Away from work the world can seem beautiful, friendly and hopeful. I watch families walk beside the harbor with children jumping from rock to rock, laughing and teasing.  Couples wrap themselves around each other despite the heat, which is alleviated by a sweet, salty  breeze that blows off the harbor.  Walk further to the fancy hotel that hovers over the water and a bride is standing, smiling, being photographed with her hair and dress blowing in that breeze.  Passers-by blow her kisses and she smiles. Someone believes in love, or at least in marriage, which, from my work bias, is even more of a risk, but rest of my life tells me otherwise.

Nibble on olives and chicken wings, as the gin adds a rosy glow to the already strawberry blonde light that bounces off the big, steel bridge, built high over the water.  Boston looks prosperous and happy, and for the most part it is.  People are relaxed and smiling and enjoying themselves.  They have come from all over the world to be here, on this kind of a day, in this kind of a place and they have been rewarded.
We have evolved as creatures in a way that allows us to be mellow, content, sociable, and relaxed, even if only for a day.  That's what summer is for.  Many people seem very able to appreciate that.

Smile and nod at strangers, laugh and talk with your friends, hug the ones you love. Spread it around.  Help the world have a good time. It's the best thing we can all do for each other.