A Happy Place

Finding A Happy Place

What do you reach for when you need comfort, when you want passage to a happy place?

Do you grab a book? Turn on a movie? Rummage for chocolate? Me too (though lately, I’m rummaging for pumpkin seeds and raisins instead of chocolate–and my movie collection misses me).  I have also learned to look for a Happy Place on little jaunts outside—preferably daily jaunts outside, where I find my favorite comfort vistas. A comfort vista, to me, is way more potent and lasting than comfort food.

Not that I’m super outdoorsy. As a child I preferred the comfort of indoors to the vagaries of wind and temperature outside. But then, I grew up. Shouldering grown up responsibilities, I learned that a connection with fields, branches, and sky was essential to my well-being. I developed a gardening passion—loving happy micro-comfort vistas (seeds, petals, stems, leaves, dirt) in the garden. Also, I discovered the dubious joy of running. Dubious because frankly, running isn’t comfortable. It’s hard; it can even hurt—a little, or a lot, depending. Nevertheless. My running always results in both a cleansing euphoria…and delight in comfort vista encounters. The play of light on hills, leaves backlit by sun. A bird on a branch.  Each a happy place for me.

Here are some of the comfort vistas I sought out the other day on a walk with my daughter Maurya. We both needed the walk, the company, and the scenery.  Looking back, that day was a lovely turning point in my week.

Rodent Atlantis

This miniature labyrinth caught my eye as I ran past. At first I just saw an unusual texture in the gradually greening grass. I love texture.  Closer look: otherworldly texture!   Aliens?  Nah.  I’m thinking (deep, scientific thoughts here) that this is the remains of a little mouse civilization… left from a tunnel network dug just beneath the newly departed snow.

Bird Perch

Maurya spotted this little black bird perched in a stand of last year’s deep swamp grass. It was warbling a familiar meadow tune, one I’ve loved all my life I think. He had a sweet spot of red…he’s a common bird, but the sight and sound of him is very comforting to me.

Ben Lomond

Ben Lomond is named for a mountain in Scotland.   I have staked my claim on him, but I’m not alone in my claiming. This is his front face (at least to me, because it’s the face I usually see). A photo of his back face is used as Paramount’s famous logo (look it up; it’s true!  I feel famous by association!). I laid flat on my back in the gravel road to catch the grass and fence against Ben’s face. A couple of days later I tried the same trick, wanting to force the juxtaposition of  new spring grass against a barn…and felt a painful prickle against my legs and bottom.  I was reclining in a patch of puncture weed. Not so comforting. But back to Ben, my beloved.   I glance his way as I send morning prayers heavenward.

My Favorite Tree, Maurya, and A Ukelele

Maurya figured if I was bringing a camera, she could bring her ukelele. I loved the sight of her strumming it under one of my favorite trees. I must have a bazillion pictures of this tree, in different lights and different seasons. And a bazillion of Maurya, too.

A Homely House

I just love walking by this house. It has a friendly personality. The picket fence may be cliche to some, but it seems to belong there…and I wish I owned the ancient trees.

Not Quite So Comforting, But I Had to Laugh

Enough said. Ok, I’ll say more: This house’s yard is filled with random, vintage stuff. Perhaps the stuff tempts some pursuers of comfort to take a closer look…?

The End.  How About Some of That Chocolate?