Mother Nature beat on her kettle drums and woke me with her thunderous pounding this morning. Penelope scrambled off my bed and bolted up the stairs to her storm hiding place under Stew’s bed. I was too sleepy to get up and get the swing cushions off the porch. When I finally got up I was groaning and moaning thinking about having to wash and dry all the porch pillows and when I got to the porch I saw it had not rained a drop. All that rainless thunder that shocked the world awake and the booms came without any rain. My yard and flowers and vegetables need some rain.

I left the porch and went to check on my bird guest in the grandchildren’s room. Worried when I took the night cover off the cage that Ruby J might be belly up, her little legs sticking up in the air, but she lives another day in my care. She missed her family and tried to bite me thinking it was my fault she wasn’t at home. Just let me say, “That girl has a good firm bite! Hurts like hell fires!” Soon as her family showed up she turned back into her sweet self. She actually sat outside on my nephew’s shoulder while we sat on the porch and visited. She had the perfect opportunity to make a run for it and join the fighting finches but she stayed on his shoulder. My niece let Ruby J sit on her shoulder for the walk to the car. I was heart attacking all the way to the car but they all said repeatedly, “Her wings are clipped! She can’t fly!” See you next time, Ruby.

Penelope did not appreciate Ruby Jade’s visit. I kept the bedroom door shut and she would snort and sniff the bottom of the door every time she walked by. When Ruby squawked Penelope would cock her head and perk her ears up. I think she might have wanted to taste Ruby. Stew and I left home last night for less than hour but I worried the whole time Penelope would greet us at the front door with green and purple feathers in her mouth!

After Ruby Jade and her family left I fixed my breakfast and ate sitting in the swing, watching all the birds on the feeders. The fighting finches came back yesterday and they are still fighting. The sky was covered in fluffy white clouds, some bottom heavy and dark with rain. The clean warm sunshine heated the day and the humidity fired up. I sat in the swing for several hours just enjoying my morning pondering. I was thinking about happiness.

I had read this sentence on a list of phrases suggested to teach children — “Happiness is not by chance but by choice.” I looked up several definitions of happiness and decided that happiness is a state of mind, an emotional feeling combining joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment. While I was pondering this, I got a text from youngest sister-in-law to come up to their pool for the afternoon. Happiness! Could not get up there fast enough!

Arrived at the farm and found baby brother in the pool with his wife and their children and grandchildren. Cement pond full of cool water had everybody smiling. The littlest fellow was still napping but his precious smile would join ours later. The grill was prepped for supper cooking and the ice cream freezer full of fresh peach ice cream was spinning around in a wooden bucket. Pure happiness on a hot afternoon.

We choose things in life that we think will make us happy. We worship the almighty dollar, we try to keep up with the Jones, we climb up the social ladder, we drive the fastest car, wear the latest style clothes, buy a bigger house, all the while seeking the elusive happiness. Happiness is a state of mind. You have to have experienced pain and sadness to know and appreciate true happiness. Every day is not filled with happiness but the days you experience it are marvelous and wonderful.

I watched my family at the farm and filed away what seemed to be creating happiness. The diving board was the point of happiness for baby brother’s oldest grandson. He was performing his tricks for Aunt Lane. Baby brother and his wife were enjoying the grandchildren’s antics. The children’s parents were relaxed and happy just watching their children frolic. The baby’s daddy pooting in the pool making us all giggle with his denial. The darling baby was happy with the bulls he saw in a cowboy book and his running, in just a diaper, behind his cousin happily driving a little pink Jeep. Simple every day life moments we should be thankful to capture in our mind. Middle vet brother and oldest sister-in-law were happy with the invitation to come eat homemade ice cream. Smiling and refilling their bowls. I was happy to be in the presence of my family, full and satisfied from a delicious supper and two bowls of ice cream.

The pursuit of happiness should not be elusive. Happiness is like a wave that rolls you quickly to shore. For a moment everything is right in your world. I think strong relationships with family and friends are a good basis for happiness. Let’s not forget to nurture these relationships and keep in touch with the people we love.

“It’s not about being happy all the time, or being sure of all your choices. It’s about knowing that life is precious, even when it’s tough,” — Topher Kearny