Happiness is excitment that has found a settling down place, but there is always a little corner that is flapping around. ~ Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
What is that little corner flapping around for you? Once in a while I sort of stumble upon something special that fills me with that sort of excitement that is deep and yet not so deep like a seal flapping its flipper on the surface of water. And there is usually a story.
One day, not so long ago, I drove out into the countryside and after about an hour passing green fields in every direction I came upon a gravel driveway that led me back into the property of an old estate. I parked the car, put on my long light pink raincoat with the oversize hood and pulled on my flowery rubber boots. Briskly, I walked down a thick grassy path to a secret garden. Happiness. It was cold. It was raining and windy. Yet. Happiness was flapping around just as much as my raincoat in the wind. Beauty. And that tucked away feeling that I have treasured ever since I had a solitary reading spot in our drafty rarely used upstairs room with a little carpet and rocking chair and my very own stack of books. Happiness to be alone discovering something unique for the first time. It was refreshment for weariness that comes with daily stuff. An hour was all it took and then I was tossing my soaking raincoat into the backseat and driving home, smiling, thankful to God for secret gardens that can move the soul.
