Wordy Wednesday
There are times that using a phone camera to capture a moment is so wrong.
Like when you are driving.
The other day I was trying to get home when I passed a car with a dog hanging his head out of the back window. There were three people in the car and the dog was hanging his head out the passenger side back window. The dog was so happy to have the wind on its face.
It was like a commercial for happiness. And I wanted to take a picture but realized that it would be near to impossible as I was driving down the road at 50 miles per hour. By the time we got to the stop light the moment was gone, the mood was wrong.
So I moved on.
Then a few days later I was on my way home from work when I got stuck behind a school bus. I watched a boy, about 8 or 9 years old, get off and walk to the driveway. He got about ten feet in when he looked to his left and his face became excited. He saw someone and I am thinking it is his grandmother. The boy dropped his book bag and moved towards the other person.
That is when I see who the boy is looking at. It is a beautiful black long-haired dog, probably a mix of a black lab and golden retriever. I have to keep moving but I see that the boy and dog are playing together in a familiar pattern. It is a scene of such happiness I almost feel like a creepy person looking where I shouldn’t.
But I don’t turn my eyes away until I have to. Seeing such joy in so small a moment reminds us why we do it all. We do it for those quick joyful moments.
Because I have to get home and there are cars behind me so I move away from the scene. I have not forgotten it a week later.
These are the moments of joy I see. But during my day I also see people getting by, people walking with family or friends. I see families and kids on bikes – some happy, some not so much. Their worries are overwhelming.
Every town has that one ‘special’ person who goes all over and everyone knows them even if you have never talked to them. Our town has the doll lady who hangs around town with beautiful dolls about the size of a four year old. You know her when you see her. The woman is happy and I hear from others that her family work to keep her that way. Oh, and she will never sell one of her precious dolls.
I remember her every time I see her and her dolls. The image of her on the benches around town does not leave my imagination.
I do not always need a physical picture of these things; they live on in my mind for however long I am able to continue to remember.
What moments of joy do you see on a daily basis?
Notes from Rumbly Cottage 
I really like stories like this one, Rumbly. Noticing the people around us is something I think makes us better. Though by noticing, I don’t mean notice them on a superficial level. Instead, I mean notice their faces – their eyes – try to connect with them, celebrate with them, empathize with them, etc.
Your description of the dog in the car and the boy on the street brought a smile to my face. I love the fact that the boy dropped everything to greet his four legged furry friend.
Oh, and thank you for not using your cell phone while driving. (smile)
Lovely story to share. This is the new version of stopping to smell the roses. Stop and notice the moments of joy around you. And I second Lenore in her thanks regarding the cell phone/driving! 🙂
Considering how I flounder about when I do try to use the phone, I agree with you both. So no more phone usage and driving for me.
Lovely post that reminds me to take in the beauty of the ordinary day. Thanks!
What a lovely post. I think I need to get out and notice more. All that comes to mind are the joyful faces of my children – when I tell my 7-year-old it’s time for Harry Potter, when my 9-year-old learns a friend is coming over. But there are probably so many all around us, if only we notice.