Standing there, free of anything to do, I liked how I felt -- buoyant, refreshed, alive -- a moment that could have easily gone on forever and never exhausted its momentousness.

People came and went. Some of them, who knew me from the past, smiled. All of them, including those whose names I couldn't quite remember, were quite happy -- as if they'd just danced at the wedding of their best friend.

Agents of delight they were -- champagne bubbles popping -- and everybody was thirsty for more.

Two old friends approach me and speak of their unshakable desire to serve -- to express the love they feel so thousands of others, around the world, might have easier access to the experience the three of us were now enjoying.

To my left, I see people beginning to re-enter the hall. The second movement of the morning's symphony is upon us.

I reach into my pocket and find my ticket. There it is! Row PP, seat 28 -- the last row in the theater on this, the first day of the rest of my life.

Photo
Photo

By the way, in case you're wondering, the photo on the first screen is from an old American tv show, called the Honeymooners -- staring comedian, Jackie Gleason, the man for whom the Miami theater was named.