Hurricanes

No, we haven't experienced a hurricane. But I wanted to reflect upon the idea that sometimes things happen in a person's life that have the force of a hurricane, especially if there is some disruption in schedule, lifestyle, or your way of thinking. Let me explain. The Beach Boys were a popular group in the 1960s and their popularity persists to this day, although they hit their greatest heights in the 60s and 70s. Brian Wilson, the eldest of the three Beach Boys, was the writer of most of the songs, including Good Vibrations, arguably their greatest hit. But the three brothers — Brian, Dennis (the middle brother), and Carl (the youngest) — were all creative. Their father, Murray Wilson, was overbearing and strict; in fact, so strict he used to berate them, whip them, humiliate them in public, and yell at them, telling them they were making mistakes with even their most successful songs. At one point in his life Brian Wilson suffered a nervous breakdown and was considered schizophrenic. There's no question that the problems he, and his brothers, experienced were like a hurricane in their lives. When a hurricane like that hits your mind, you need to find a way back to calmness, tranquility, and sanity. Brian Wilson was helped by Dr. Eugene Landy, a psychologist who used unorthodox methods to cure Brian and bring him back to reality. Here's hoping you find your own Dr. Landy, or his equivalent, in your own life to help you weather those inevitable personal hurricanes. (By the way, in the video, that's Dennis on the extreme left, and Brian is on the far right, singing I Get Around with his famous, beautiful, high-pitched falsetto voice.)
Reference:
Heroes and Villains: The True Story Of The Beach Boys by Steven Gaines (Da Capo Press 1995).