Life is short. Be happy. Happiness is a decision. If you look for it, there is always a reason to be happy. Bobby McFerrin had a wonderful song entitled ” Don’t Worry Be Happy. We are often manipulated by what happens to us; it is a natural response. Senator Graham died last night; by all accounts, he was a happy Senator.

Byford Beaver is exploring near my house. He is up from Brooks Pond. Byford is carefree. He bid me, ‘Good morning, Jay.’ ‘How was your Woods Walk this morning?’ BB asked with a sly grin. ‘Have you seen the Dam I am building,’ Byford asked. ‘It represents my focus this summer,’ BB laughed. ‘Did you know Great White Heron passed away in the night?’ Byford noted. ‘We are having a celebration of life for GH on Monday, and I hope you can attend,’ Byford continued. ‘ I did not agree with GH always, but he was my friend, and I loved him,’ BB said softly. ‘Brooks Pond is way up since the massive rain we received Friday night and Saturday, BB informed. ‘We will bury GH next to Brooks Pond, which he loved and spent most of his time at,’ Byford Beaver said. ‘He was a good GH,’ BB said with a tear in his eye.

‘What a short road life is,’ Mr. Badger lamented. ‘Why worry about the small stuff, and it is all small stuff,’ Mr. Badger continued. ‘We are here for a purpose; the joy of life courses through our veins,’ Badger laughed heartily. ‘My mission is to make others feel better if they are sad and to turn frowns upside down, Mr. Badger offered. ‘There were thirteen Badgers in our little Den,’ Badger said. ‘Mom struggled to keep us all fed,’ Badger noted. ‘Often I would sit by the lake and think of the vast world that surrounded me,’ Badger mused. ‘Then I met Mr. Toad and Moley and Ratty, and we formed a band of merry brothers,’ Badger danced. ‘This is where I began to form the love for boating with my merry band,’ Badger said, lost in his memories. ‘Sundays were especially joyful boating on the lake in the woods,’ Badger noted. ‘Mr. Toad was loquacious and a riot to have fun with while Moley was circumspect and had an eye for detail when he had his spectacles on,’ Badger continued. ‘We played cards with GH and the Deer Family in the Woods for hours on end,’ Badger said. ‘GH was always happy, Badger remembered. ‘We all thought humans a bit strange, but GH told us to accept them, invite them to our picnics and learn their ways and wants,’ Badger reminisced. ‘GH told us that there is good and happiness all around us if we just accept it,’ Badger whispered.

‘I have decided to look on the sunny side of life,’ Billy B said. ‘I have known disappointments and sorrow early in life and found a downturned attitude very satisfying but hard to maintain,’ Billy B observed. ‘ I choose happiness as a path of life,’ Billy B proclaimed!