Sitting in the swing with a cloudy sky and Mother Nature’s wind. The sun is playing hide and seek with the clouds. The winds chimes are loudly playing their tunes. The vultures are very high today, floating on the wind currents. They don’t have to flap their wings. Still haven’t figured out why the buzzards hang around here. The song birds are scarce today. I’m disappointed there aren’t many on the feeders. Even the crazy doves aren’t here. Maybe there is a hawk or cat around. I can hear the birds chirping but am only seeing an occasional cardinal. Been watching a flock of cedar waxwings across the street but they haven’t crossed over yet.

Ever heard a dove’s wings whistle? When they land or take off they flap their wings so fast it makes a sound like a kazoo. Looked them up in my wondering and the research called the noise a kazoo, too. Nature’s alarm system, but in my observation the doves are the last to flee when the red tail hawk comes by for breakfast. Some times the dove with the crazy coo just stays, frozen in place. I really think something’s wrong with him. The doves in my yard are Eurasian Collared Doves. The birds have a line of black feathers around their necks that looks just like a collar. Well, after researching I realize his crazy coo is his “harsh loud screeching.”

These doves would make terrible airplane pilots. I watched the goofy one try to land on the edge of the bird bath three times. Once he landed in the middle and quickly tried to jump out of the water, once he made it to the edge, couldn’t get his balance and fell off, and once he over shot his landing and passed over the bird bath. He even has trouble landing on the power line. He entertains me every morning. Maybe all that head bobbin has done a number on his brain. Well, after researching further about these doves, I stand corrected. Research says they are bright and intelligent and fearless in a fight. Says they can be hand trained…might try that!

Been watching the three dogs across the street — two old ones, set in their ways, and home from their daily neighborhood walks — and a youngster full of energy. The younger of the old pair walks to the city library every day. His older partner has too much arthritis in her legs to make it that far. They just settled down for their morning siestas and here comes the younger one trying to pester and perk them up. She finally gives up and happily strikes out on her morning walk alone. She has such a lyrical walk, lightly bouncing along on her white capped feet, a smile on her face, her pink tongue hanging out. She definitely has doggie joy in her heart. Walks like John Travolta from Saturday Night Fever, proud and cocky. She’ll find a prize in the children’s yard up the street and bring it home. Her last trips have found two big stuffed dinosaurs and two balls. She made a mess with the dinosaurs. One of the balls rolled away yesterday in the blustery wind. She chose not to chase it.

Pondering on the word joy after talking to my friend this morning. Joy is an emotion of great happiness. I think we should all find joy in life, seek every day to find a joyful moment. Doesn’t have to be a major life alternating occasion, just a simple moment that puts a smile in your heart and a spring in your step. My friend found her joy last night in the beautiful star filled sky on a walk with her dog. I found my joy last night remember many candlelight steak dinners here with Chief. We loved to eat by candlelight using our fine china and drinking our sweet tea from Waterford glasses. Once my mother visited us in Alexander City and saw turnip greens in my great grandmother’s Limoges soup tureen. When she got through lecturing me about using it Chief said, “What’s the point of having this beautiful china if we can’t use it and enjoy it?” She could not answer that so she sat down and served herself some turnip greens. Smile!

My dearest friend told me that after her husband died her granddaughter told her she had lost her joy. That is pretty profound for a child to notice. My friend goes on to say “it’s easy to lose your joy. It’s not something you can go out and buy. It has to be given back to you by God. He assures us that we will find joy again in the everyday normal happenings of our day.” Well said, my friend! Sorrow prepares you for joy. God has placed joy all around us. It’s everywhere and in anything we experience.

“Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but your smile can be the source of your joy.” —Thich Ahat Hanh