Though I am still processing so much of what is currently happening in these Not-So-United-States, I am on a mission to find or create moments of joy in my life. Yes, I could live with constant anxiety (I do have an anxiety disorder but that’s not the point) over the future of this country, or I can find those moments of joy that make me laugh or smile or give me hope in times of despair.
This photo post has images I have taken, and memes and images from the internet. What brings a person joy is subjective, so mine will look different than yours. Take a moment to find what brings you a moment of joy.
I live in the house I grew up in. My parents bought this house in 1966, and 3 year old me moved into the front downstairs bedroom with my older sister Karen. I grew up, moved out and moved across the country to Brooklyn. When I moved back to my childhood home 20 years ago, I took the upstairs master suite, which was actually bigger than my entire coop apartment in Clinton Hill Brooklyn. Because it was getting a little harder for my mother to go up the stairs, she opted to stay in that front downstairs bedroom. Vera Mae has been gone many years, and that bedroom has changed personas quite a few times.
Now I have just moved into the front downstairs bedroom again. Because of my spinal issues and arthritis in my hip, it’s becoming harder for me to go up the stairs.
I have come full circle in my home.
I took the picture above from the window of my old/new room. Because I am in Southern California, we don’t get much changing of the seasons, except a few types of trees. The contrast between the always blooming Bougainvillea with its deep pink hued flowers, and the Crepe Myrtle’s golden orange leaves, getting ready to be shed for the winter is beautiful.
Just some random images found posted on Bluesky and Reddit, that gave me a moment of joy. They all remind me that I can take a seat for a minute, but I need to get ready to fight the injustices I see headed our way.
Who doesn’t find a moment of joy looking at cat pics on the internet? And if there are such people as that, I do not want to know them. The middle pic is from Bodega Cats, who you can find on Instagram and Bluesky, amongst other places. If you’ve never checked out the working cats of the bodegas, you should. Of course, in most of the images the are just lounging, but they work to keep those stores vermin free.
The last cat belongs to my neighbor, and I happened to get this shot of him with an otherworldly glow. Maybe its his aura?
An envelope from Baker Creek Seeds delights me every time I look at it. I may frame it. There is just something about the little dark bunny peeking out from the bottom of that cabbage that makes me smile whenever I see it.
Lastly, I leave you with a photo of my cat Taco. He’s a big boy, as you can see because he takes up almost my entire welcome mat. Guess he doesn’t want any visitors. And the introvert in me totally gets that. I ain’t mad at him.
Have you thought about what brings you moments of joy yet?
I love your Moments of Joy. Even though I have oodles of things to do, I decided to go on a last-minute hike and as always, I was in awe of the beautiful sunset glowing on the mountains.