What brought you joy today?

[Hack]

I live in a typical urban neighborhood, with the houses almost on top of each other. I live on a cozy street that is one block long. And somewhere in my neighborhood resides a very talented French horn player, who every night between 9 and 10, plays his or her horn. So, amid the sirens, the children laughing, the old men on their porches talking, the ice cream truck and the pick-up basketball game that is constantly played in our street...this French horn player punctuates the accidental symphony that plays in my street every warm spring night.

[Sassybren]

Watching my daughter walk the stage for graduation. I thought my heart would burst with pride.
I am so proud of the determination it took to finally make it this far.

[Cowboi]

Went out to dinner with 2 old friends!!!

[Zimmeh]

Getting my transcripts in the mail and now I can go tomorrow and hopefully register for my first nursing class....


I am still believing that Fate brought me home for a reason...

Zimmy

[Massive]

There's a parcel, all taped up and ready to be posted sitting beside Me at My desk.
Now I get to send it off, and wait.

Once it arrives I get to watch her open it.
Then she gets to open her birthday presents just before she goes to SELF ...
I can't wait!

[Kenna]

going to dinner at a VERY dear friend's house for homemade lasagna and her special DIVINE cheesecake. she knew I was tired and hurting from hard work, she always makes me feel so cared for!

While I was there, I get a text from another close friend that said they bought my favorite kinds of ice cream for me. I can't express how that simple act made me feel.... I've worked so hard and I certainly appreciate that they care so much and are so thoughtful.

My friend's grandson was loving all over my puppy tonight... wouldn't leave him be. This is a kid that has many challenges for his 7 years. My heart hurts for him. But he found such joy in loving on Willy and being real gentle with him. He asked me "why can't Willy have cheesecake? He likes cheese."... before I went to leave, I watched him rocking Willy in the rocking chair - singing "rock a bye baby" to my sweet little Love-Bug. Willy was so patient and good with him. It made my heart feel good and revived to see this little boy - who faces a harsh world of hardships and rough times - enjoy being gentle and sweet with my Willy Bear. I always knew Willy makes an AWESOME Therapy Dog.

It brought me much joy to feel cared for by two very wonderful, amazing, thoughtful, adored friends... and to see that little boy so happy and "in control" of his anger and rage outbursts.

[violaine]

a sweet little guinea pig boy, and he's with me until saturday.

ps- thinking about making some english toffee now as a gift.

[Enchantress]

The most beautiful moon I've ever seen. It hung in the Georgia sky like a delightfully eerie tangerine orb, covered with wispy bits of lavender bruised (or so it looked) clouds. There were no buildings to mar its beauty...

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by violaine

a sweet little guinea pig boy, and he's with me until saturday.

ps- thinking about making some english toffee now as a gift.

Where's he going after Saturday? Does he drive?

[Soft*Silver]

Oh what a day I had! My driver's window arm is sunburned as well as that side of my nose! LOL. How funny! MY daughter and I went freecycling today.l picked up alot of things but some of my "finds" were beyond great! I had asked for a bathroom scale and someone answered they had one for me. When I met her (half way point between my house and hers...she was kind enough to do this)I realized instantly I had made a new friend..she was so jovial and a kindred spirit about retro/vintage items. She gave me this wonderful old round scale, padded in green, that had roses embroidered on it! What a treasure!

Then I went to a man's house who had trumpet vines for me. I pulled up and his front yard was spectacular! It was all garden and he had the most intriguing eye catching ornaments! And they were all made out of "junk"! My favorites were the huge glass "bulbs" he had mounted on cement stands (drains!)..I was admiring them and he told me they were the glass bottoms of old lamps! I was mesmerized! I am going back again next week, and will get photos so you can see how stunning they were out in the garden with the lights hitting them! I cant wait to do that on my own now! He was so sweet..he gave me lambs ears, a variagated ground covering that I have already forgotten the name of, and some bittersweet as well as the trumpet vines. He has invited me to come over in two weeks, to go thru his basement before he has a garage sale...he has had three family members pass on, all gardeners, and he has all of their items in the basement. He is unpacking them and then sorting them and then giving me first rights to glean anything I want from them! At no cost! Kindred spirit is what he called me....I am still pinching myself!

I just finished clearing off my beautiful front porch. I had stored all the clothes to sell on ebay there...now its a sitting room where my plants can be! Rose Cottage is still transforming and its getting more and more enchanting!

what a great weekend! And it just started!!!

[Hack]

Driving home tonight from a very long day on the road in northern Michigan, and there was a huge accident on the freeway coming in to Lansing, where I live. That's not what brought me joy, of course.

Traffic had to detour on to a country road, through a state wildlife area, and as I was driving through, I spotted a pair of sandhill cranes. The female painted with mud, her camouflage while nesting. And the male standing right next to her. And standing, a bit wobbly between them, was a fledgling crane.

I was sad for the accident, but happy for the detour. Isn't life always like that?

[Massive]

Parcel?
Posted!
It should be on it's way over the pond very soon, if not right now.
I can't wait for it to arrive so I can see the look in her eyes and her wonderful smile!
I love you babygirl!

[socialjustice_fsu]

Tomorrow promises to be a day of my brain being challenged, questions with illusive answers being posed and always the untimate 'why?' I am teaching a class on human suffering, depression, and ways to cope with such when our patient's face the end of their lives. I stare at the power point slides I have prepared. Polished, refined, spell-checked. It looks good. But how do I get this message to ring true to these professional caregivers? How do I ensure they know in their own lives they need to check themselves and live life as if tomorrow never comes their way. To watch hypervigilantly for ways to come to them to give and receive joy...

She came to see me Friday night. A long drive for her with her large, rotten dog in tow. We had been sharing our lives through several other mediums but we were yet to be in each other's presence. She knocked on my door. I opened it and we fell in love right there in the laundry room. This is fairy-tale stuff, she says. We spend two days together and try to pack in the many days on the horizon that we will be physically apart. She has to return to her home, her obligations. I must do the same. It is 2 AM Monday morning. She was to have left much earlier but it just did not happen. I see how tired she is and offer whatever I can to help her be alert for the long drive...coffee, tea, a hot shower? She opted for the latter. I went back to the recliner to study my presentation. Time is drawing to a close and I need to focus. I hear the water.

She begins her hot shower and I lament about trying not to miss opportunities in this life that bring us pure joy. She is 3 rooms away from me. Why am I sitting here? I go to the shower and offer to wash her back. She asks me to join her. I start to tell her of the things I 'need to be doing.' The look in her eyes told me differently. I realized this is one of 'those' times to experience her and everything she brings to me. I undress and join her in the shower. I look at her. She is every bit as beautiful as the first time I kissed her. She stood before me - skin wet and shiny from the hot shower and with every ounce of her vulnerability there for me to hold. I abide with her. She looked at me with eyes that said love me, protect me, have me. I gently bathed her. I washed her hair and helped her rinse off. Touching her lifted me to another plane. Never had I experienced the energy nor the force of this kind of loving. She gently bathed me in return. She kissed me as the water ran over both of us as we entangled our arms around each other. She continued to bathe me with such tenderness that I felt I had transformed into a spiritual being and could sail through the heavens. I almost missed this beautiful experience because I was caught up in the 'need to's' of life. She was 3 rooms away from me and about to be another 600 miles from me within the hour. I wanted to be with her...love her...touch her. Following many warm and sensual kisses we left the shower and dried one another. We never lost eye contact...you see, we can show love through our eyes if only we take the time.

Within the hour she had to go. We kissed and kissed again. The tears came this time as we shared some lyrics so special to us..."She says, "Wake me up, no pretending" I'll keep stealing, breathing her; birds are leaving over autumns ending; one of us will die inside these arms, eyes wide open, naked as we came, one will spread our ashes around the yard."

Headlights switch on to highbeam to show her the way home. I stand there and listen to the engine's noise disappear into the night. I go to my bed and begin to doze wondering if she is alert. I am suddenly roused from sleep. I hear the water. It has begun to rain.

[Tommi]

A trip to Homo Depot, and a big black and orange instrument for precision.

A new Black & Decker Grasshog trimmer and edger is sitting in it's big tall box in the living room. Tomorrow we will attack the grass. yes, probably tomorrow

[Softly]

my cat being AWESOME.
and keeping me company while Daddy is away.

[Jet]

I had the most amazing lunch today with my pal, Mel.
A bistro with exquisite pasta and cheescake.....

[Dylan]

Waking up and the first thing I see is Mahhh Woman smiling at me

Having an amazing dinner with Mahhh Woman

Hangin' out at home with Mahhh Woman

Having a three day weekend with Mahhh Woman


And Fudge,
Dylan

[Dylan]

OMG

There's a Deadliest Catch marathon

AND

A Hoarders marathon this weekend


I Wonder If There's Going To Be A Law & Order Marathon Too,
Dylan

[Medusa]

HOARDERS MARATHON!!!!!!!

[AtLast]

Seeing a couple of members that can really go at each other have a mutual laugh! Kewl! A gotta' love this community!