Most often, however, the question arises out of far less dramatic circumstances. A month of just one damned thing after another- the accumulation of everlasting paper cuts of daily life, when things break or go wrong or turn sour and we say we just can't win for losing. The scrambled egg of existence lurches out of the frying pan onto the floor. Depressing. Disheartening. Frustrating. Irritating. Maddening. 'Why me?'.
On the other hand. There are those weeks, when the sun shines, an unexpected kindness comes our way, something truly amusing happens and we laugh ourselves silly, we get enough sleep, have sweet dreams. An old friend takes us away for an evening of music, a neighbor leaves a thank-you bottle of champagne in the fridge, a child gives you an unexpected hug, the wisteria suddenly blooms, you find a forgotten photograph of a lovely place and time you will never forget, and, and... the world is 'Yes' instead of 'No.' It's not your birthday but it feels like it- a rebirth of joy on a small scale."
Labels: Robert Fulghum