The Joy of Everything!!

Some weeks there is nothing, as far as Joy is concerned - well almost nothing. I still have to get used to the idea that waking up in the morning should be a joyous act.

The last week of February, for example, was the week from Hell. However, I must have found some Joy, because I created a post. - shards of Joy from a shattered week.

This week - Feb 26-28 + March 1- 4 has been much better, as far as Joy is concerned - maybe not everything, but a lot!

There was, for example,

1. The poetry - While I was looking for a phrase from a play, I ended up going down a rabbit hole of poetry online. I do love reading poetry.

What I was looking for were a few lines from the Porter's speech in an early scene from Macbeth. My daughter had asked how the cat had been throughout the day and I responded with, 

"If I were the porter of Hell's gate, I should have old turning the key." 

It's a fancy way of saying that I let the cat in and out of the house so many times that I think I aged significantly, simply by opening and closing the door!!

Yes, we can elevate the mundane to the sublime, even where cats are concerned; it just takes a bit of imagination. The actual phrase is

"Here's a knocking indeed. If a man were porter of 

Hell gate, he should have old turning the key."

2. Next there was the marvellous lunch on Wednesday with a friend where we discussed many things including the fact that the film nominated for best foreign film in the upcoming academy awards is a film in Irish. I was thrilled to read that many people are not only speaking Irish, they are also writing books in Irish and making films in Irish. "Say not the struggle naught availeth."

3. Then there were the orders at work for a new product - Stellina. I distribute Stellina fibre for needle felting and spinning. It's merino wool laced with threads of silver or gold. The joy for myself and many others is the sparkle. How often have we enriched our lives with the Joy of gold and silver!!!

4. Saturday was an example of the Joy only March (or April) can bring. Friday evening there was thunder, lightning and SNOW!! The blizzard howled through the night lashing us with its wrath. Snow blinded the cars, iced the roads, and threatened the walker. We were, however, rewarded for our suffering. Saturday morning was a fairyland of white chiffon. Snow bowed the trees, billowed from heaving drifts and blew in soft swirls though the sparkling air. We were given a few hours of magic before the epic shovelling began. I love to be reminded of the chores that have been with us for generations. OK, a few had snow blowers - but only a few. There is something about the rhythm - scrape, pause, shush, on a quiet morning that reminds us that there is a commonality among those who find Joy in the North. I know we will have more snow, but this was an end of Winter blast, so I have my fingers crossed!! Sunday it will be 5ºC

5. I have finished two needlework projects that I needed to finish before I move on to the next set of unfinished projects......the Joy is in sorting out the clutter!!

6. Saturday, in addition to dealing with the snow, we also had to get a new microwave oven. I don't find Joy in having to replace "things." I would keep something that worked, forever. However, I did find Joy in the fact that my son attempted to repair the appliance. The turntable wasn't turning. He went online and watched videos on how to fix a non-turning turntable - I was impressed. He took the microwave apart. The trick was in trying to put it back together again. OK, my Dad could put anything back together again, except a relationship. My son tried. He's better at relationships than my Dad - hence the new microwave!!

7. Saturday night was a family dinner. I made Penne A La Vodka with Caesar salad and we discussed "the cat." As I so often eat alone, company is pure Joy! Tomorrow, I'll bake ribs in the oven. Soon, we will be able to BBQ them outside. Spring whispers in the mists of the melting snow.

Now, picking just one of these for the Joy Jar is a challenge. However, I think it has to be "The porter of Hell's gate." The phrase is a connection with the past and a link to the present. I'll worry about its portends for the future later.

Have a "Joyous" day