The bounce with the view between the ears

I was recently invited to see a history exhibit that was traveling through my area and was excited to go.  It was something I had been wanting to do but not by myself.  My companion was a ton of fun and I really enjoyed but, it brought back a part of my childhood that was uncomfortable.  That is what history does, isn’t it?  Teaches about the past and helps us gain a personal perspective?

Later when I was talking to my friend, I told her that it had made me uncomfortable and she was upset on my behalf.  I told her that she shouldn’t feel bad because it was something I hadn’t wanted to miss and I was very glad to have gone.  Life isn’t always a bowl of cherries, just ask Erma Bombeck; sometimes it is the pits.  This was more sour and sweet than hard.

There are experiences in life that I am grateful for but never want to do again and there are others, like this; I want to see again.  I am grateful I saw Saving Private Ryan and Schindler’s List but I don’t want to see them again.  There are other things I have lived through that were awful at the time but made me who I am today.

The first memories that this recent experience brough up were painful but, that pain was fleeting.  It also brought other things to my memory that were worth enjoying.  Maybe my life has made me stronger in that I no longer fear pain.  Like being thrown from a horse, it hurts less than the anticipation of the landing.  When you get up, you realize that it was survivable.  I no longer bounce like I used to but, I do like the view from between the ears. That means that I am going to welcome what ever comes; sweet and sour, happy and sad.