I flew down to Southern California for some work meetings
this week. I inadvertently made a reservation at a hotel a few minutes
away from Disneyland. When I checked in, I saw a flyer listing the free
shuttle schedule to Downtown Disney. I arrived just a few minutes before
the 7:00 p.m. shuttle was about to leave so I thought, OK- why not?
As I was exploring all the shops
and restaurants in Downtown Disney, I checked out the menu at a
restaurant called the Jazz Kitchen. The food looked good so I thought,
OK- why not?
I ended up being seated right next to the stage where a fabulous musician called Barbara Reed
was singing and playing the piano. She was taking requests so I asked
for something bluesy. Barbara complied by singing a song called "Hey Lady, Your Husband Is Cheatin' On Us." It was fabulous! I spent a pleasant hour there eating a great meal while listening to Barbara's music.
When I left Salt Lake City this
morning, I never would have guessed this is how I would spend the
evening. This is what happens when you go, OK- why not? A happy accident
indeed!
Happy Accidents and Unexpected Moments of Joy
Keeping Track of Joyful Moments
I had a conversation with a sister of mine recently about those ephemeral moments of joy and the happy accidents that come into our lives. These experiences briefly light up our lives like shooting stars darting across the night sky. Unfortunately, our attention returns far too quickly back to earth and the mundane routines that make up our daily lives. This conversation made me think about how I need to document those moments before they fade away entirely into oblivion. In the end, our lives are made up of "moments" and I want to remember the ones that made me smile.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Joy at a Funeral?
My childhood friend's father passed away recently and I attended his funeral today. So, you might be thinking that this is an odd entry for my first "joyful moments and happy accidents" story, but hear me out. The most vivid memory of Sara's dad is that he was a wretched driver. I recall one time he was driving us to some high school function and he decided he needed to come to a complete stop for some reason in the middle of a very busy freeway. Eek. When I was at the viewing last night, one of the first things Sara mentioned was his horrible driving habits and we had a very good laugh over that.
Sara's daughter Lucy sang several songs at today's funeral mass and this is the first time I've heard Lucy sing. When she sang Shepherd Me, O God, I was transported. I know it's trite to describe Lucy's voice as angelic, but I literally got lost in the sound of her voice performing that beautiful song which I had never heard before today. It was sublime. That was my joyful moment for today.
Sara's daughter Lucy sang several songs at today's funeral mass and this is the first time I've heard Lucy sing. When she sang Shepherd Me, O God, I was transported. I know it's trite to describe Lucy's voice as angelic, but I literally got lost in the sound of her voice performing that beautiful song which I had never heard before today. It was sublime. That was my joyful moment for today.
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