The trees that edge the fields and the rolling hills of the Blue Grass Valley are almost fully leafed out. Various shades of tall green blades of grass dance with the breeze. The redwing blackbirds perch atop fence posts and cast their calls down the valley. I love how they respond back and forth to one another and then fly across the fields catching various insects to keep themselves and their babies fed. The soft rumble of a neighbor’s four wheeler passes by in the field to my right to remind me that in this land of supreme beauty and nature we humans continue to add our own sounds. The redwing blackbirds seem accustomed to the rumble, but Charlie the dog disrupts the peace with his booming bark and the moment is interrupted. The bird songs pause for a moment, but pick back up once Charlie stops his loud complaining and returns to his bed inside.

Another birthday is quickly arriving. I cannot say I am particularly excited to be one year closer to fifty, but I am deeply grateful to be here sitting in the newly mown lawn in the warm sunshine with my sweet Mira dog at my side. On my walk yesterday through the woods of our Batesville home I felt the same gratitude wash over me as I feel right now. It hit me yesterday. I thought to myself, huh…so THIS is happiness. Something that was not often present in my life for a long stretch of time. But it now is an emotion that spills over me quite often. I still get angry and deeply sad and of course the current state of our country leaves me in tears, but I can still find happiness. I cannot control the world or others, but I can certainly pluck the happiness string if I just look out to the valley or the woods that surround me.

So THIS is happiness

A soft warm kiss of a May breeze

And love ballads from the redwing

So THIS is happiness

Laugh lines around my eyes

And the lean of Mira dog against my knee

So THIS is happiness

Plucking watercress from a mountain stream

And loving all the beautiful life I see

Happy almost birthday to me. The prospect of turning fifty in a few years now excites me. How quickly a perspective can change. There is so much more ahead to see and in all honesty even if I die tomorrow. I am happy.