By: LPJ
Easily, many delights slip notice. If we pay close attention, we can find small and big pleasures from ordinary and extraordinary things, moments that could color and brighten our day: add a lift to our step, put a smile on our face, glow to our eyes, a zing to our tone, a song in our heart. Don’t lose or waste those moments. They can enhance our perspective of life. I keep my own collection of delights and will share some with you, hoping that you, too, will find your own delights.
Nikki’s Nalu, exotic kitty (Gab’s photo) – read about Nalu in this blog
Joy’s Daisy, lioness dog (Matt’s photo) – read about Daisy in this blog
Recently, I spotted a mother squatting by a camellia bush on the walkway outside my home. She was speaking softly to her little girl who was obviously enjoying caressing, the petals of the red flowers. A light breeze blew some of the petals off the core, and as they drizzled and pirouetted to the ground, the little girl giggled her heart out, almost sweetly hysterical. She must have thought the shower of petals was so funny. The small laughter that chirped was infectious. The mother laughed, and so did I (though I wasn’t part of that huddle).
That endearing scene was so special, because that very bush was planted by my late husband. An empty spot outside the corner of our patio prompted him to plant that camellia. Often, he checked if anyone from our homeowners’ association had the plant pulled off its roots. To our great relief, no one did. So it grew into a lovely thick bush that yielded flowers every spring to summer. This spring, as in previous years, the flowers are abundant and boldly red, tantalizing enough to magnetize that little girl to rush to the camellias and touch their velvety petals. I wanted to join the party, and play with the flowers, too. Instead, I picked one later that day and propped it in a small white bowl set on my dining table.
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During a gathering in my sister’s house, after winning a game of chess with a young man, and in the midst of a dozen guests, my nine-year-old grandson walked to the piano and started to play his recital piece. A wonderful surprise – no urging, no coaxing – he just very confidently decided to offer his music to entertain everyone around. The music was magnificent! He played with such gusto and understanding of the movement, that it was so fascinating to watch his facial and body expression as he travelled his fingers on the ivory keys. I take great delight in my grandson’s love for music, and in playing the piano, an activity he obviously enjoys. On weekends, I try to facetime during the hour that he rehearses on the piano at his home. I sit quietly as I watch him drill through the exercises and pieces. Even the rigorous run of his fingers on the keys for routine exercise is music to my ears.
His playing baseball in his community’s Little League is as much a source of enjoyment for him. His talents include drawing caricatures and composing clever plots for comic books created by him and his friend. That boy delights me in so many ways.
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Nalu is my niece’s exotic looking pet kitty. A very alluring cat with long black and golden-brown fur and big rounded penetrating eyes that seem to command and implore (if those two opposites could at all be possible at the same time). I messaged my niece and teased, “You sure Nalu’s an earthling?”. She responded, “Nalu says that ancient Egyptians treat their species as gifts from the gods. While myth says they were sent by aliens as spies. But she believes she’s just a lioness.” I replied, “Then likely, she’s a descendant of the Lion King.”
Nalu reminds me of Daisy, a half Australian shepherd and golden retriever, one of my daughter’s pet dogs, currently the third and youngest of three in the brood. Daisy appears to be shy and demure, yet overbearing and overly protective at times. When her fur is grown long, as during the cold season, the shiny, thick golden fur around her head gives her the appearance of a lioness. Daisy and Nalu, cousins and descendants of the Lion King? If all of humanity is related, can’t all in the animal kingdom be related, too? Hmmm … an interesting thought.
Nalu and Daisy — delightful and lovable!
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Soft drops of rain on the balcony outside my bedroom, especially in the evenings when I’m about to sleep – so delightfully lulling, almost like a sustained whisper of music that leads to dreamland. Or shimmering sunlight bursting through the blinds on my window, waking me from my sleep like a silent rooster crow to herald the new morning. Or humming birds that flirtatiously flutter from flower to flower in search of nectar. Or clouds that gather like monstrous cotton balls against the blue canvas of a sky, making shapes that tease the imagination – a winged angel perhaps, or the moustached face of a prince, or a long-haired lady with a gracefully flowing gown. Or tree branches abandonly cavorting with the wind, with leaves swishing like girls’ taffeta skirts. These are just a few of many of nature’s delights that I delight in.
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I will be remiss if I fail to mention food as among my favorite delights. This morning, I sat contentedly eating my simple breakfast before going to work. A big mass of light and pale yellow chiffon cake, not too sweet and soft as sponge. I like dunking the cake in my heavily milked coffee before happily gobbling it down — one of my early morning delights, as I ready to face the routine and rigors of the day. I am so thankful that I found a store where I can buy these chiffon cakes. I store several in my refrigerator. For lunch today, from the cafeteria at work, I had a freshly fried crispy chicken thigh and a fat scoop of mashed potatoes swimming in dark gravy, perfect for hungry me. You can tell, food easily makes my list of simple pleasures and simple delights.
Keep our eyes and senses, our mind and heart open for delights. Each day is rich with them … they’re such blessings to enjoy! And be thankful. This is still a beautiful world; God intends it to be so.
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