The phrase “Hope springs eternal” came from the much-quoted English poet Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 – 30 May 1744) who upon hearing from his doctor how well he was recovering on the day of his death replied with more than a trace of irony, “Here am I, dying of a hundred good symptoms.” So, optimism rules to the end! And for better or worth, I suppose I would have to classify myself as an optimist just like Alexander Pope. In fact, that’s probably as close as I get when it comes to following any sort of creed or religion or believing in something when I have no concrete proof of its existence. Admittedly, I’m also a bit of a wise guy – a kind of humorous cynic who can respond to all news both good and bad with a joke in varying degrees of taste – but I blame that on my Long Island upbringing (Long Island being that fish shaped land mass jutting eastward out of New York City and the birthplace of many popular comedians from Jerry Seinfeld to Eddie Murphy.) Maybe it was something funny in the water supply, but I credit my cynical sense of buoyancy, even when it looks like we’re drowning in wave after wave of just plain old life, to my continuing fascination and belief in the power of rock ‘n roll music.

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