Joy is easy and joy is free and too often its misplaced like some spare change that escaped our pockets and gotten buried under the sofa cushions.
For me I still recall hearing that it takes far more msucles to wear a frown than a smile and so I committed to forcing a smile on my face. rather pollyanna sounding of me but when I jam that smile on there broad and mighty it actually feels like it is an exercise stretching the taut muscles around my fused spine.
Anyway it has the effect, I tell my foolish self of making others inquire that if my twisted body can be topped with a countenance wearing such a smile why can't they. EIther that or they think I'm pixilated. ( Obscure b//w movie reference.)
For me this past weekend there was absolute joy borne from the most fertile of field for joy harvesting, THe heart of an 8 year old girl.
While away on vacation I left my golf clubs at home despite staying between two golf courses in a small PA town called Dubois. On an errand to fetch my wife some coffee my Jamie asked if the restaurant at the golf course had coffee. The child had a plan. Inside she asked sheepishly how old she needed to golf here since it was quiet and she saw the golf carts outside.
I guessed about 10 and reminded her I had not brougth my clubs. We inquired and the starter said you need only be 8 years old to golf, then he said that they had new clubs inside to rent at nearly no cost for a round. We left and I told her if she arose the folowing morning at 6:30 she could treat me to a round of golf.
SHe got home and told her momma that her morning was "Perfect" absolute unadulterated joy beamed from her face.
The next day as I watched her hit shot after shot with nothing but smiles and drive the cart in thirty to forty uard increments up the fairway or run the distance with a giggle it wa my day that was perfect and my joy just as perfect.
We scored one fox spotted, one deer within a dozen yard, a posse of daffy squirrels, a critter that was either cat or long tailed rabbit and a pair of hawks overhead. No one was seen or heard anywhere for the nine holes we played and our laughter will echo in those trees for decades to come.
