What Makes Me Happy?

Last Friday at my writing class we looked at Leunig's cartoon 'Seven Types of Ordinary Happiness' and we were asked to write as an exercise about what makes us happy. One night during the week I sat down and made a list of things that make me happy. In no time at all I had a long list. I made a count, there were over 90, which included things like roast beef with horseradish sauce and mustard, good red wine, mougrabia, taboule salad, the smell of crushed garlic, watching my dog chew on a bone, a hot bath after a hard day's work, a good shag, my early morning walk, mountains, forests, and rain. If my response was to be meaningful, I would have to be more thoughtful and less hedonistic.

One evening recently when I walked into the lougeroom after bathing, I heard Lib calling from outside for me to come out. There was a calm but serious edge to her voice and she was on the timber deck crouching near the window and aiming her camera. She was up close to a wandering echidna which was exploring the deck, unconcerned by what must have been, to it, unfamiliar territory. This wonderful creature waddled about, took a drink out the dogs water dish, then headed off to the ramp and back into the garden. Watching this made me happy. I wondered if the echidna was in in the habit of finding the dog's water dish during the hideous heat and dry of February, but is usually unseen.

Last weekend we went Melbourne and stayed at the Marriot hotel on Saturday night. It was Lib's alternate long weekend and when she suggested we have a night out in the 'big smoke', then go to the Demon's family day at the Junction Oval on Sunday I jumped at it. I knew Lib needed a change of scenery, to get away from the house and the work, as did I, a break from bees and honey. It turned out a disaster really. Unknown to us it was Chinese New Year and every restaurant in Chinatown was booked out. We walked around for ages trying to find somewhere to eat in 38C heat with fire crackers and crowds enough to send you batty. Eventually we bought takeaway souvlakis and ate them on the banks of the Yarra, knocking down four bottles of water and two of red wine as we ate. Robbie suprised us with his thirst for red wine before taking off to meet Merinda somewhere.
The next day we went to St. Kilda in the morning, found an underground car park and walked in the heat down to St. Kilda beach. It was stinking hot and I couldn't understand the people lying out in the full sun, while the four of us huddled in the shade of a solitary palm tree, watching the passing parade of bathers, walkers, joggers and cyclists. There was a couple close by sharing the shade. She had returned from the water and towelled down before lying next to the man. She was most unattractive if you will pardon me saying. I choose not to offer a description, it would be impolite, but I will say she was well tattooed, and didn't seem to have any teeth. She picked up a book and began to read. Her man spoke to her lovingly, calling her 'babe', talking about things like the water temperature and the clouds, not self conscious at all at our nearness. As he talked and she read, he gently stroked her arm with his fingertips. His unabashed love and kindness made me happy.

We made it to the MFC family day, finding shade in the old Blackie-Ironmonger grandstand. After a while I walked down onto the ground, well protected from the fierce sun by my hat and longsleeved shirt, to mingle with crowd and the players. Lib and the boys stayed in the stand. I asked a couple of players to point me out a young player named Michael Newton, whom I'd read in a member's email was from Whorouly. I found him and asked him did his dad play for Whorouly in 1980 because I played for Greta in the O+K grand final of that year, against Whorouly, and they had a player named Newton. He said yes his dad was named Rod and played then. He told me he'd remember me to his dad and I wished him well in his try at the big league. It made me happy to come across an old opponent's son and I'll follow his progress at the Demons.

A similar feeling came to me yesterday. I was driving near Emerald when the driver of an oncoming car gave me a big wave. I waved back but the car was well past me before I realized it was young Lauren. She went through school with Robbie and is now at university in Ballarat. It makes me happy when young ones wave to me, old school friends of Gordon and Robbie. I remember them as children at pre-school and school and the parties and sleepovers. It makes me happy to see them as young adults making their way.

What makes me happy? Nature. Love and kindness. Memories. Hope.