jammin'

I look at these faces. I look at them every day. I look at the way they embrace their joy with absolutely everything that they are. When the are enjoying something like banging on a drum or blowing on a harmonica, they exude their joy - they look like they just swallowed the sun and it shines out of them. That's the lesson they teach me. These days, I hold back from embracing the joy of the things I love. I don't sing along as loudly to cheesy songs I love when others are around. I don't smile as hard in photos. I temper my comments about a tv show I love that others might think is trite or dumb. We all do these things to maintain social bonds on some level, but it's kind of stupid. I just want to lose myself in the joy of the situation, unfettered by anything. I want to smile as hard as you do, my kids. And not just because you are the only ones who like my songs. But partly because when you enjoy music (even mine) you do with an unmitigated, infectious enthusiasm that makes feel as alive as I can be. So, thanks.

p.s. now if you could just stop whining about things you don't like with so much enthusiasm, we'll have a perfect situation.