It's not as ridiculous as one would think

 

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Someone near and dear yet far away handed me a paperback to read and keep. My heart skipped a beat at the thought of him even thinking of bringing me one of his favorite reads. As handsome as he is intelligent, he lives miles away from me, and our paths cross a couple of times a year. He is a youngster. Well, actually he is in his third decade, but he is a youngster to me. 

    Standing with him in the sunshine that afternoon, I looked at the title of the book he had just given to me: Howl's Moving Castle. Uh-oh. I felt conflicted. Happy over his thoughtfulness; uncertain about the book.

Majestic and Mean

 

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Through the kitchen window, I spotted a big bird on the limb of a tree in the back yard. I grabbed my camera and clicked once before it flew. 

    I later posted the photo on FB where folks enjoyed seeing it. One described it as "majestic"; another said, "gorgeous," and another said I made his day. Someone else said something about hoping it would come back so I could see it again.

    In full disclosure, I do not welcome the eagle to land anywhere on my property, especially at this time of year. In a few weeks, there will be adorable little goslings scrambling all over the yard, trailing after their mamas and daddies. The last thing I want to do is look through my window and see a helpless, fuzzy, yellow baby goose writhing in the talons of an eagle. 

Is the eagle majestic and gorgeous? Yes. But I would rather it go away and not come back, at least, not until fall and not when it has a ravenous appetite.

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Are We Having Fun Yet?

 

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You might not believe this, but someone once told me I needed to lighten up and have more fun. 

Ouch!

    I will bet that Charlie Finley never heard words like those, because he wrote the book on having fun, and he shares his expertise in a compilation of short stories, Are We Having Fun Yet? Needless to say, it's a fun read. Charlie writes mostly about past pranks, the ones he pulled for no other purpose than the partaking of a few laughs and maybe to occasionally make a point.

    In full disclosure, I am not a prank puller, but I delighted in sitting on the sidelines of Charlie's narratives and witnessing his practical jokes. The world needs more fun. It's something we forget to do when the seriousness of life bears down on us.