Living Happy Newsletter

Welcome to Living Happy, a nice way to feel and be our best! Rather than concentrating on all the "bad" news in today's media, Living Happy is about good, interesting, and fun things for everyone.

What can I say? Our writers just get better all the time! I am so proud to bring you this week's issue.

In "Resonating with the Spirit" Brad Holway gives us a most beautiful, touching, incredibly descriptive poem that in a few words covers experiences from the esoteric to the everyday. You will identify with all of it!

In "This Time of Year" Joyce Magnavito paints a lovely, but ominous, but beautiful, sad but hopeful picture of the end of the year. Her descriptions of earth's little creatures and the colors and the changing feel of the air make you feel like you're watching a movie rather than reading words on a page. More! More!

In "Maiden Flight", Arthur Lewin tells us about his daughter's first day of driving alone, and shares his thoughts as the day progressed. You will be right by his side as you read this, nodding yes! yes! so true!

In "Our Past - Our Future" Dimitra Savvidou shows us how to celebrate our past instead of mourning it, and how to use it as a stepping stone to the future. A nice way to look at it, and a different way of thinking about aging.

Next, Maryann Hall continues to share her "Letters From London" with stories of long walks on the heath and High Tea at a little shop in Highgate. And what she saw after a rainstorm was a surprise she never expected, and something we all wish we could see!

This week, Frank Clark is talking about Easy Street. See my article for an interesting development about his article!

So, okay, my article is called "God Blows A Kiss." It's about several strange coincidences I have experienced, and I hope you will be amazed! And by the way, if anyone has similar things that have happened to you, please tell me. I would really love to have a regular feature called "God Blows A Kiss."

Happy Reading!

Love, Carole XXX OOO

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God Blows A Kiss By Carole Kane

dolphin in water

I have experienced a number of stunning coincidences over the years, and you probably have, too. My friend Joyce says that each occurrence is like God blowing a kiss to me, and I like that thought!

I will tell you of three of those experiences. One is amazing in the timing that had to all be in place for it to happen. Another is so mundane that I almost couldn't believe it happened! And the third seems to be one friend hearing the thoughts of another...

- - - In 1996 I was working with a physician in Washington, DC who decided to start a hospitalist business, and he asked me to help him set it up, credential his physicians, and so forth. About a month later, he gave me a Christmas gift of one percent of his business. I must say that I appreciated the gesture, but one percent of nothing didn't really impress me. Tickets to a Kennedy Center opera, or a nice piece of jewelry, were more what I would have liked.

On December 18, 1997 my ninth grandchild was born, in New Jersey. While visiting the new baby, I saw a "House For Sale" sign quite nearby, and I realized I wished I could move to New Jersey to be near my family. I had been studying and working in Washington DC for eighteen years, and it was time to go home. But... I did not have enough money for a down payment on a house. What to do?

A week later, I was informed that the physician I worked for had negotiated a deal to sell his business to a California hospitalist group. He had only owned his business for one year. He sold it for a million dollars. For my Christmas gift in 1997, he gave me $10,000 - which was one percent of his business! Three months later I moved into a house near my children in New Jersey.

- - - A few years ago I arrived at work on a dreary Monday morning. I had not had time for a cup of coffee before I left home. I mentioned to a co-worker that I was really dying for a cup of coffee, but there was nowhere nearby or in the building to get any. About five minutes later, another co-worker walked into my office with two cups of Starbucks coffee. "Would you like one of these, Carole?" he asked. "When I looked in the bag, I saw that they had given me two cups instead of the one cup I ordered."

- - - Only this week, I was considering buying a new house. Don't ask. Long story. Anyway, I had seen one I liked in a great neighborhood, on Easy Street, and had been thinking about it very intensely. I even liked the street name. Sort of fits me, no?

Last night I looked at my e-mails, and there was one from Frank Clark:

"Living Happy Writers Group.
My newest story. Just posted. You are
the first to see it. It just came to me today.

Hope you like. Here is the direct link to the story.
It will take you to Easy Street.

Frank"

What do you think of THAT?!!

- - Carole - -

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Resonating with the Spirit

By Dr. Brad Holway

What more poignant scene is there

Than looking out over a cliffside

At the vast, raging ocean

While you breathe the salt air

And feel the cool wind in your face?

What more awesome sight is there

Than the panoply of glittering stars

Jewel-like, shimmering, opaline, unimaginably distant

Spangled across the blackest of night skies?

What fact is more reassuring

Than the knowledge that there are people

Who accept you as you are

And love you without judging?

What sweeter sound is there

Than the treble chorus of birds,

The voice of a loyal friend

Or the laughter of your own child?

What more comfortable feeling is there

Than a plump pillow under your head

And cozy blankets covering you

On a cold, chilly night?

What deeper emotion is there

Than that feeling of selfless love

For family, friends and strangers-

A love extending to all living things

And to Creation itself?

What smell is more wonderful

Than that of coffee brewing

And bacon frying in the morning

When you know that someone who loves you

Is cooking it for you?

What taste is better

Than a glass of hearty red wine

On a sun-dappled afternoon

In the company of a good friend?

What realization is more stunning

Than knowing that you are simultaneously

Important and insignificant,

Mortal and eternal,

A tile in the mosaic
Of an unfathomable Universe?

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This Time of Year By Joyce Magnavito

In nature, and in the tales told at night with shadows looming larger and encroaching nearer, it is the time of year when the separation of the seasons becomes more apparent and the veil between the living and dead grows thinner than at any other time of the year. The slow dying of summer's lush beauty and fruitfulness gives way to golden days of mellow sunshine, woodsmoke, and wine-red apples rotting on the earth where they have fallen from the trees in the orchards. The recently harvested wheat and corn, the songs of birds gleaning their own share of grain left behind in the fields, and the still comforting warmth of the sun lulls us into believing that we will be reprieved, for a while yet, from the dreaded, frozen gray and brown of winter landscapes.

No matter that we no longer huddle around fires for protection, or draw closer to flickering candlelight in our now well-lighted rooms. Instinctive fears that defy our modern, rational minds will not be driven away. We look out at the lurking shadows and deride the uncontrollable chill we feel, for we are unable to obliterate what millennia have taught us, namely that in this season elemental, supernatural forces are unleashed. The children go from door to door as ghosts and goblins, witches and warlocks, filling on-lookers with delight. But who is that pair of children hanging back in the shadows? They wear no costumes and yet, the boy's eyes stare out of hollows in a deathly white face. The girl, with ribbons in her long hair and lace on her old-fashioned dress, also stares intently and silently, her pallor as deathly as the boy's. But suddenly they are gone - surely, they were no more than a trick of the imagination on this night when the dead revisit the earth?

Nature and man conspire to have us believe that winter is far off and these mild, sweet-scented days of warm sunshine and freshly harvested grain will linger on indefinitely. But the unmistakable sound of geese honking overhead as they fly in their V-formations, and the unexpected chill that comes with early morning and late evening, tell us otherwise. The blue of the sky has a new, different sharpness to it; just as the air has lost its softness. The earth's small creatures are busy preparing for their survival in the months ahead. A brown spider spins a web, its silvery strands shining like steel in the moonlight. The spider swings from strand to strand like a graceful acrobat as the web grows rapidly into an intricate, beautiful pattern. Spinning, spinning, spinning. Finally, the spider comes to rest at the web's center, patient and motionless, waiting for the prey that will eventually wander in and become trapped.

Poor creatures of the earth going to and fro, spinning, toiling, carrying their bits of food to store up against the winter's barrenness; building nests and burrows, all the while unaware that they are no more than Sisyphus was, and that a sudden, fierce wind, or a cascade of melting ice will destroy them and render their industriousness futile. The unexpected snowstorm in the midst of autumn's beauty takes all living creatures by surprise. The yellow roses, deep orange marigolds, and brilliant red hibiscus had still been blooming valiantly when a sudden blanket of white covered their brilliant, summery faces. The season lengthens into long, somber months with a pale, water sun and days that no longer offer solace. The nights become what they have always been for our species - a time to withdraw into lighted rooms and stay close to safety, and for the souls of the dead to return to their realm on the other side of the veil. We wait and look to the future, and the return of the life-giving sun, as the year draws inexorably to a close.

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Maiden Flight By Dr. Arthur Lewin

All day long I was looking at the clock.

The moment of truth was today. My daughter was driving to her summer job by herself. For the first time she was driving by herself. And it would be really the first time that she ever went anywhere, because we don't have real public transportation in this town, by herself

On the way in to work I thought of 8:30 approaching, the time she'd leave for work, but when I got to the office, by the time I got caught up, the appointed hour had long passed. No calls so I knew she arrived okay. But then there was the trip home! The hours stretched and stretched. It seemed as if it would never reach four. But I was in a meeting and away from my phone and by the time I realized what time it was, it was long past four! After the meeting I raced to the office. There had been no calls. I breathed a sigh of relief.

That evening as I came walking up the driveway, I noticed that there were no dents on the car. And then I saw her. I greeted her heartily and said, "How'd it go?"

"How'd what go?" she replied.

"The drive. Your drive to work!"

"Oh that. It was fine." she yawned.

"You know what she told me?" said my wife. "That it felt great to be alone."

"No, ma. I didn't mean it like that." said my no longer little girl.

And I remembered another time years ago when I had just come home. As I stepped into the kitchen, my daughter came to me for the first time. She crawled right over to me as soon as soon as she saw me, or did she hear me first? She scooted right on over to me and grabbed my ankle.

She came to me? In so many words, "I know that person, and I want to be with him!" It was, yes, a sign of her affection, her love for me, but it was also a signal that she was growing and moving on her own. And that process continued right up until today.

Well, she went out on her own all by herself to work, at the day camp where she takes care of seven and eight year olds, and back. And, not only was she not afraid to, but she felt "great to be alone." Great to be alone! Yes, but she said she "didn't mean it that way." But didn't the fact that she felt that we took it that way mean that she did?

Nonetheless, I sort of perked up tonight when she called me into her room to kill a large fly. But I suspect in time she'll find a way, or a person, to cope with that sort of thing, which after all is only as it should be. But what about me? Let's see. By that time my little niece should be how old? And by then won't her parents need some help. "A lot of help!" I thought happily. Lost in reverie.

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Our Past, Our History By Dimitra Savvidou

"If we celebrate the years behind us, they become stepping-stones of strength and joy for the years ahead". - Anonymous

Everybody carries his own past as well as the past of our family, the past of our nation, the past of our civilization; we bear collective memories within our own blood. We are born within a specific period of history but we still carry the previous history and being responsible for the future history. We will die during another instant of history. Our start and end are certain. The question is: what do we do in the meantime?

Whatever our past is, we need to celebrate it! Remembering the creative moments and learning from the difficulties and challenges, even from moments of sadness. As I am reaching my fifties, I listen to my generation quoting the greatness of life twenty or thirty years ago. I am amused! I recall in my twenties, my parents' generation declaring that life was grand when they were young! The true fact is that when we were twenty years old, still life was not good - in our own eyes - and that's why we had to save the world!

But we forget...

We live our small life span thinking that we are the axis of the earth. We are self-absorbed, self-centred and we think that this moment of history is the most important or the most dangerous, the most creative, the scariest... Cease one moment!

Remember:

"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun." - Book of Ecclesiastes

No need to get panicked. Let's look at the past and search for a solution in the knowledge we have accumulated through the past, through the history, or just get inspired by it. Let's celebrate the years behind us, remember what we learnt. Let's allow all to become stepping-stones for a better future.

Dimitra Savvidou

Writing, Teaching, Counselling

www.lovingministry.net

www.lovingministry.org

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Letters From London By Maryann Hall

Re-reading the bundle of letters I wrote from England thirty-nine years ago brought back so much about those wonderful times. I am very thankful that my mother saved my letters, and now I can share with you a time that was a highlight of my life....

It had always been my wish to have a window over the kitchen sink - well never did I dream that when I finally did, it would be to look out over London "whilst" doing the dishes each day! Here I was in l972-73, in a flat that looked out upon London and St. Paul's in the distance; a view that would constantly thrill me in all the seasons of the year.

Feb 22 - Last weekend the weather was just like spring. Joyce and I walked through Highgate Cemetery, which is a very old and famous one here in Hampstead. It was quite interesting and we learned more than we would ordinarily have, as there was a tour leader. It makes it much more informative than walking through on your own.

Afterwards we had tea (the works) in a little tea shop in Highgate. Both Joyce and I said that if we were running a shop we could do it more efficiently. They have these very small trays and therefore have to make two trips usually to the tables to clear up one tea before before starting on another. This, as you can imagine, takes quite a bit of time. Meanwhile people are lined up outside the door waiting their turn to get in. All we said was "Why don't they have bigger trays at least?" In the end we decided that it adds to the charm of having tea, as the tearoom is so small that everything else is in proportion!

Mar 27 - It was about 4:30 in the afternoon. I decided that since it is staying light so late now (only gets dark about 8 PM) I would take a stroll up on the heath, as it had been weeks since I was there. I dressed for whatever kind of weather might crop up and went off. It's getting so green now and yet enough of the trees are still bare enough to make it beautiful. The sky was both a bright blue with big puffy white clouds and at the same time dark black in spots where some place was having rain.

I walked up towards Kenwood House and on the way fed the ducks. No little baby ducks as in St. James Park (London) and was a little disappointed in that. I got up to the rise just before the walk down to Kenwood and decided to sit there awhile. It is just so peaceful looking over the rolling hills and seeing Kenwood in the distance.

Sure enough it started to rain and I figured I'd walk a little more on my way home. I went down to the Vale of Health and while going through it something made me look up, and what do I see but the most magnificent rainbow imaginable! It looked as though it was right behind the houses, so I started walking around them, and sure enough I saw the end of it, and the brighter, more vivid part was just over another rise. All I thought about was that it was too bad everyone I know couldn't have seen it.

More of Maryann's letters will appear in future Living Happy issues.

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Easy Street By Frank Clark

Happy-Go-Lucky

Is Happy lucky? Let's ask him.    Happy, are you lucky?

I'm not lucky, but I'm happy.

Is Lucky happy? Let's ask him. Lucky, are you happy?

I'm not happy, but I'm lucky.

Happy, do you know what it means to be lucky?

Only happy, never lucky.

Lucky, do you know what it means to be happy?

I kind of know. I was happy last night when I struck at luck.

I won five hundred dollars from the poker game.

But Lucky, do you really know what it means to be happy?

I wouldn't know. Not a clue.

Happy, do you know about Easy Street?

Yeah, I do. You don't have to do anything to get something

Not me, I have to earn it. That's ok because I'm happy.

Lucky, do you know about Easy Street?

Yes, I do. I've been there a few times, only if I'm lucky

They have everything. None of them have to win by chance.

If I play my cards right, I win.

Does Easy Street really exist? Who knows? Let's ask them.

Can't find anyone to ask. Only they would know what it's like to be on Easy Street.

If it does exist, are those on Easy Street really happy?

Only they would know. Are those on Easy Street really lucky?

Probably doesn't matter to them. They already have what they need in life.

Maybe I should try one more time. Hey, out there! Does Easy Street exist?

A voice responds. Yes, it is real. It's quite obvious. Don't you see it? It's not far from here.

You should know it well. It's within you. Within me? Yes, inside of you. It's your disposition about life. It's how you see it. If you think it's somewhere out there, then it's far from you and you will never know it.

Think Easy Street. It can be yours for sure. You do have to look for it. It's there. Just grab it.

Now, isn't it great to be on Easy Street? You have found it. It's time to relax and enjoy life with ease.

I'm so happy, I have found Easy Street.

I'm so happy, I'm living on Easy Street.

Doo, doo, doo-doo, living on Easy Street.

Doo, doo, doo-doo, living on Easy Street.

Happy is happy. Lucky is lucky. Easy is easy. Living on Easy Street!

www.frankclarkshortstories.com

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Think a little - laugh a little

Danny: My year of psychoanalysis was a complete failure!

Sandy: Aren't you cured?

Danny: That depends on what you call a cure. A year ago I was Julius Caesar. Now I'm a nobody.

- - - - - - - - -

Lost Dog Sign:

Please help me find my lost dog. Here is his description:

One eye, Three legs, Ears chewed off,

Broken tail, Answers to the name "Lucky"

Jokes contributed by Mary Boyette

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May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us. - - Mother Theresa

Contributed by Maryann Hall

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Your Space - For Guest Writers, Ghost Writers, and Commentators

THANK YOU! to Brad Holway, Joyce Magnavito, Arthur Lewin, Dimitra Savvidou, Maryann Hall, and Frank Clark for their wonderful articles and stories this week. And thanks to Mary Boyette for spending hours searching for just the right jokes for Living Happy. We are blessed to have a fantastic group of writers and contributors who bring so much to our readers! If you'd like to comment about their articles, just click on the Living Happy link below.

Would you like to contribute an article?

(Whatever form it might be, please try to keep it no more than 250-300 words.)

- Do you have a little "slice of life" to share?

This Could be YOU!

- A poem you wrote?

- A favorite quotation or proverb?

- A really good joke?

- A review of your favorite book or movie?

Do you have comments about Living Happy?

Really, really, we LOVE your comments!

For Comments and to Contact Living Happy click this link.

I'd love to hear from you! And thanks!!!

Carole XXX

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