You Capture: Happy

Sort of a self portrait. Sort of a picture of Dev and I together. He's pretending to be asleep on the bench & I'm only a shadow so I don't know if it counts as "together." Dev had my camera part of yesterday so there would be some evidence that I was on this trip, too. Sometimes, none exist. I do like this goofy picture he took of us.

I'm in Albuquerque this week with no real obligations.  It's incredibly odd but also pretty relaxing. I am trying to get some work done during the day while Dev is at his conference. Even that --working in the middle of the day like normal, professional people rather than at two in the morning when I can fit it in is pretty relaxing. That top picture doesn't really exude happiness but just the time to wander around and take photos and have free time is pretty great. It's all made me pretty happy.

Of course I neglected to think about software compatibility between my various computers before I flew away so for photos I had to be creative... a few I posted to facebook earlier in the week or snapped with my phone while here.
 

Ethen turned two this week. I love how happy a few little books can make an already happy two-year-old.

My niece Jenna turned 9 this week, too. Azia and I took her out for the afternoon. Mani/ pedis, lunch complete with s'mores, and a little shopping at the mall.  It all made for a pretty happy day

Yesterday we had this group of ladies eating next to us at lunch. When ever I see a group of these women out somewhere it always makes me happy.

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people's gardens
And learn to spit.

-an excerpt from "Warning"                                                                                 

I loved Jenny Joseph's poem the first time I read it when I was a freshman in college. It seems a little odd that it would resonate with someone only 17, but I think even then I liked that idea of thinking about what's fun about getting older when all too often all everyone talks about are all the things that aren't. Every year or so in some city I'll see a group of women in their fancy red hats and purple outfits and I love that it reminds me of all the fun and happiness that comes not just with your second or ninth birthdays, but all those that come after fifty, too.