Today's morning picture features a baby bird that was trapped inside a kitchen wall for three days. It was finally freed after the homeowners enticed the bird out by playing a CD of birdsongs (RSPCA/PA)

An alternate version of how this picture came to be is that the CD they played was Bach's St. Matthews Passion, not bird songs, but the bird insisted on singing the chorales in Italian, not German. However, that is purely speculation on my part since how many birds have you encountered in your walk through life that could sing Bach in German?

Of course, this morning's barrista, Dovey, seems to have a special affinity with birds, and promptly mixes up the virtual coffee beans into what he calls his most-optimistic espresso brew ever, something he titles “Wings of Optimism”. Since at this ungodly hour of the morning, I seem to be the only person sitting at the Virtual Espresso Bar, and remembering some of the truly unique effects our custom-blended espresso has had in the past, people doing back-flips and the like, this morning I am somewhat reluctant to test the latest blend until I see what effect it has on others.

However, I needn't have worried. Upon sipping my first cup of the day's daily blend, I immediately feel uplifted, optimistic that whatever I hope to attain today will be just fine. Suddenly two blue-eyed tiny wrens, always among our morning songbirds, show up on the garden fence outside and begin singing “It's a wonderful day.” in harmony. Will miracles never cease?

Even our resident Virtual Ballroom grump, who never smiles at anyone most days, is sitting quietly at the end of the bar smiling benevolently at me, acting as if we have been friends for a long time. I cannot be too friendly with a grump most days, as sometimes I more resemble a grump than a benevolent host. In fact, I'm so sanguine and uplifted, I may have to kick a computer to restore my typical early-morning equilibrium to its normal state of paranoia tinged with absolute dread. If it were not for the Virtual Ballroom and Espresso Bar, I do not know how I would get through each day.

What about you? Do you have ten reasons to be optimistic this morning?

Dave

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