Wait for the Pop

During my casino gypsy days, I spent four years in Davenport, Iowa. Besides being the hometown of jazz great, Bix Beiderbecke, Davenport is the birthplace of chiropractic medicine.

In the late 19th century, D.D. Palmer founded chiropractics and coined the term. At his 2nd Street office, he practiced on the deaf janitor, Harvey Lillard. Palmer's manipulation of the janitor's spine produced a loud pop. Harvey mentioned hearing a buzzing sound. They both realized the noise was coming from the street below. Harvey could now hear.

I was told this story many times while in Davenport. To me, it's a metaphor of life. We plan, dream, work and scheme to reach our destination. But, life is an uncharted sea and unknown breezes alter our course. Few are where they thought they'd be ten, even five years ago.

Always listen for that pop. Performing a mundane chore, or during some idle past time, POP, an unexpected manipulation can open your ears to life-changing sounds. - as ever - BB

"Penetrating so many secrets, we cease to believe in the unknowable. But there it sits nevertheless, calmly licking its chops." - H.L. Mencken