To learn as we grow old the secrets of our souls

We drove to Baltimore this afternoon without speaking, the same route we’ve taken for years. We never know if it will be good news or bad. But today it was good.

As I steered the car through the streets of the city, a familiar song came on the radio. I hadn’t heard this particular song in a long long time and could not think of who the artist was but I knew the words, and it was a sad song in a way.

Between the silence of the mountains

And the crashing of the sea

There lies a land I once lived in

And she's waiting there for me.

I'm looking for someone to change my life.

I'm looking for a miracle in my life.

And if you could see what it's done to me

To lose the the love I knew

Could safely lead me to

The land that I once knew.

To learn as we grow old

The secrets of our souls.

The song is Question by The Moody Blues. I was in ninth grade when I first heard it and I thought it was beautiful.

On the way home from Johns Hopkins, crossing the Susquehanna on 95, we both glanced north and saw an angry sky. I was driving and hoped we’d make it home before it hit us. Five minutes later, a smattering of rain led to a full-force white-knuckled ride where small branches of trees were flying across the road and cars were slowed to about 20 mph with many of them lined up on the shoulder with their flashers on, waiting it out. Our exit was the next one and I could barely see. There was lightning and thunder crashing and all I could think of was how scared George must be in the house all alone.

Luckily, the driveway stayed clear and just as we got home, the rain began to abate. And suddenly, all was well. There was a very happy dog to greet us when we opened the door. And we had good news for him.

Top photo taken at Great Head, Acadia National Park, Maine. Bottom photo taken at Schoodic Point, on the Schoodic Peninsula, also a part of the national park.

Hope your weekend is a good one.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .