We had a delightful visit with our niece Paige last night in celebration of her birthday! It was a wonderful time because Paige is a delightful person. She brightens any room that she is in. When I see Paige I see her wonderful mother, Tara. She cares about others and can project that care simply through her lovely smile. Paige was with us in Maine in 2022 and her laugh and positive attitude made my trip! I remember her laughing at my telling of a great waiter at Taste Of Maine who often described the offerings at the restaurant with the expression of ‘Yum!’

Happiness is often found in the eyes of others who spend time with us listen to our stories and cares and never seem bored. Really our time is the only thing of substance that we can give. When we are alone at times we feel a bit lonely. When someone wants to know us and give of their most precious commodity…time…we are renewed and refreshed and rejuvenated.

I ponder the meaning of possessions. We work our entire life to acquire them only to say goodbye to them at our passing. I was watching a person on a detective show on Acorn TV the other night who commented to his colleague that when his father died he set about going through his possessions and found that most of what his Dad had…was junk. Now I am certain that his Dad’s possessions did not seem like junk to him…but his son had difficulty in discovering the meaning of a life of collection of significant things to the soul of his father. Indeed we see our world through our own kaleidoscope. Events that touch our hearts and stir our brains cause us to search for a physical manifestation of the spiritual event.

Recently we changed televisions and therefore TV stands. Housed in the old gargantuan Entertainment Center were years of collections of stuff that had significant emotional appeal to us at the time of their purchase. A very much pared-down amount of the precious stuff went to the new TV stand and the rest went to the utility room…probably for the boys to go through at our demise.