By James Turner

The Raffles Hotel is in Singapore.  There at the bar is served a special cocktail that goes by the moniker of the Singapore Sling, very famous and held in high regard.  We’ve enjoyed the old Hotel’s libation on two occasions: first in 1976 on our way around the world as relative youngsters and then again in 1991 as chaperones to Meriget’s brother’s lovely bride, Melinda.  I mention it only to remind you of the remarkable moments of appreciation’s agenda.  It seems life is determined to attempt to improve your lot.  Lots of stuff is worth the trouble that luck presents.

For example, in June of ’76, on a peasant’s budget, we settled on a hotel in the notorious Connaught Circus area of New Delhi, India.  Outside it was 115 degrees, farenheit.   People were laying in the shade with little more than diapers on their brown, damp bodies.  Our room, in the ancient British-inspired accommodation, had 14-foot ceilings with a creepy old fan and marble floors.  There was a big tub and yellowed glass windows with a view of the sweltering city.  First, we would lie in the tub, then spread out on the marble floor with a damp cloth.  It was magic!  New Delhi, like most Indian cities, was noisy, frighteningly hot, and brilliantly colorful.  I was 34 and Meriget was 33.  At that point we were bulletproof.  But India got a hold of us.  After a week of furnace-like heat, we escaped to the cooling relief of the Hindu Kush mountains.  Eventually, we made our way to the Old Raffles Hotel in Singapore.

Nowadays, I beg the powers that be not to forget the magic moments.  I hope appreciation’s agenda reminds us to wonder at the big and little things each and every day on the journey to eternity.