"The Joy of Living"

Last week my son and daughter in law let us have the grandkids for a few days. It had been a while since they actually stayed with us without their parents being present. To celebrate this event I asked them what they wanted to do. Their answer was - go bowling!

Genna is now seven and Walker turned five on Saturday so they can actually get into the bowling thing. My wife begged off because she has had some back trouble in the past, so it was left up to me to be the adult who bowled with them. It has been some time (years actually) since I bowled so I was pretty rusty.

For the kids they now put up bumpers so they won't gutter the ball. I was hoping they would just leave them up for me too, but no luck. And I have to admit a few of my throws ended up in the gutters. Still I didn't throw the ball backwards (which I have done in the past), and I didn't throw it into another lane (which I have done in the past).

We bowled two games and Genna came in second in one game, and Walker came in second in the other game. It couldn't have worked out better if I had planned it. Plus I am only mildly sore from my exertions.

The next day being Walker's birthday he went to an Atlanta Braves game with his parents and other grandparents. We gave him some money to spend at the game and when he returned he had spent it all on a cap for Genna. He dearly loves her. Genna meanwhile had gone shopping with my wife and had gotten tons of clothes. She loves to shop and she loves to buy.

The next day was Easter Sunday and we all went to church. It felt so good to have most of my family with me. My oldest son JJ and his wife usually come home for Easter but this year his wife's parents had come to visit them so they stayed in Durham. 

After church we went out to the home of two of our best friends. Other couples and their families were there too and we had a real Easter celebration. I love being with my friends on holidays. I am not a big holiday person and this helps me forget to be depressed. We ate a lot, talked a lot and enjoyed each other a lot. It was simple but it was wonderful.

The children had an Easter egg hunt and Genna found the golden egg. The prize inside was twenty-five dollars. I should have joined in the hunt. She was a little too boastful about finding the egg but Walker seemed to tolerate her success.

It was a good day, a joyful day. It was nothing complex, nothing that cost a lot of money. Time passes and life seems to get ultra modern at times, but it is the old enjoyment of faith, family and friends that always gets me through. I enjoy my life. I love my life. And weekends like the one that just passed make memories for me to treasure for years to come.

There is joy to be found in the simple things. There is joy to be found in living.
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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