<p>Hiking “The Flume” trail on a crisp fall morning, smelling the fall leaves and watching the fabulous clear water pour over the granite boulders and rocks.
Happiness is taking a ballroom dance class w/your husband and finding a spark that has been slightly dim.</p>
<p>jym, No Elton for me- a friend just got her tickets and was trying to talk me into going over there with her and her H. I’d love to, though. The only concerts we’ve gone to in Florida have all been Aerosmith- we’ve done Tampa, West Palm and Orlando. Rockers R Us. I’m part of the “Steven Tyler/Joe Perry groupie” set. Yowsie. </p>
<p>Sarahsmom, I wish my H and I could do the ballroom dancing thing. I tried to get him to learn the lindy ala DVD with me (aka “shag” in my day, but that’s another thing now…), and it was just, well shall we say, it didn’t go well. In all other ways he’s a champ. In my next life though, the guy who whirls me off my feet gets my heart.</p>
<p>happiness is…another unsolicited pm from ldgirl! And…</p>
<p>Standing under the stands at the football stadium with our 30 member drumline battery as they just BRING THOSE STANDS DOWN prior to their grand entrance into the stadium. So loud and powerful and those kids are so talented! I’m just thrilled everytime I witness it. :)</p>
<p>Last week, I took my 80-year-old Mom, widowed 3 years ago, out to the American side of Niagara Falls, then onto the trolley in the state park. We disembarked at Goat Island to walk out onto the tiny Three Sisters Islands until there was only sparkling water rushing by, clearclearclear, with the mist of the falls in the far distance. </p>
<p>It was hard for us both to walk, but we talked. She realized she hadn’t been to Niagara Falls since their wedding trip 60 years ago. It was a wedding trip, not a honeymoon, because they couldn’t afford to go anywhere until a year after the wedding, at which point my brother was already born and guess who cried through their trip?</p>
<p>Just to realize we could still go somewhere new, so magnificent in nature, together, was mother-daughter happiness.</p>
<p>Happiness is … celebrating my husband’s birthday last night with both kids in attendance. S, who’s at UCF, and D, who’s a H.S. jr, went out to dinner with us. And, since we did unlimited shrimp night at Red Lobster … son’s favorite … this was a nice, leisurely meal. We sat and talked and laughed and carryed on, and no one got up from the table early after scarfing down all their food in three minutes flat; the tv wasn’t on; homework wasn’t calling … all in all … one of those most happy happy moments. 
</p>
<p>I love interacting with them as young adults when the distractions of their worlds aren’t pulling at them. Oh happy day!</p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>Doubleplay; We tried to do the DVD dance lesson thing too…same result. I had been threatening to sign us up for years, and finally with only one birdie still in the nest, we have the time. We’re doing ballroom one night and “Swing” another night. The results have been amazing and H says that he’s really having fun! (H is shy and does not like to be the center of attention.) </p>
<p>zebes, What a nice birthday tale. We spent a week in Mexico this summer and there were times when I thought “this is heavenly” because we were all really enjoying each others company. Many say that the teen years are difficult, and my son can definately get on my nerves, but for the most part I have loved the teen years.</p>
<p>After a great work out. First sips of coffee on a quiet morning.</p>
<p>Doing the Sunday crossword puzzle with my husband on a beautiful summer day watching the remote control sailboats at the Boat Basin in Central Park.</p>
<p>Good long phone calls from my S and D overseas. Between phone cards and skype, the issue is not money, it’s finding the time on both sides.</p>
<p>My house is apparently right under a canadian goose flight path (os there such a thing?), because several times a day a V flies over, honking. For some reason I love it. It’s so very autumn-y, and it looks so nice against the sky and the leaves. It’s a homey feeling.</p>
<p>Finishing writing a paper with enough time to get a good night’s sleep</p>
<p>…Which is the exact opposite of my current situation (6:15 in the morning with five pages left to write - minimum, and no time for a nap during the day)</p>
<p>tanya, I love when the geese fly over, honking, it evokes the same feeling that hearing a far away train whistle does, a bit lonely, a bit of yearning, but also a sense of peace</p>
<p>Happiness is…loading the kids in the car, lots of blankets to make it cozy, thermos cups full of cocoa out for an evening to ooooh and aaahhh over Christmas lights…Hastings Ranch, north of Pasadena is a favorite treat to see during the holidays! Well worth the $3.49 per gallon of gas :)</p>
<p>Hmm… happiness or contentment? Not always the same.</p>
<p>Contentment:</p>
<p>Sunrise on a camping trip.</p>
<p>I’m an adult leader for three different youth programs. Any time a kid achieves something, especially if they didn’t think they could do it.</p>
<p>Cold winter day, hot cup of coffee, family room sofa, Polartec blanket, an old favorite movie on the tube. Even better if WashMom is there.</p>
<p>Happiness:</p>
<p>Kids born.</p>
<p>Seeing WashDadJr receive his Eagle Scout award. WashDadJr had a long, difficult road to earn this, and the ceremony was in front of a bank of windows on a cloudy day. As you probably guessed, the clouds broke and bright sunshine streamed in just as it started. Totally cool, and I was so proud of him.</p>
<p>Watching TallSon make a really important catch in a tournament baseball game, which his team won on the way to the tri-league championship. TallSon was a mediocre player on a mediocre team, and the kids played way outside their ability for two weeks. Everyone in the stands knew that TallSon was going to drop that screaming line drive – and he didn’t. He was the most surprised person in the stadium, and I was the happiest dad in the world because he succeeded (for once!) at something he loved but wasn’t good at.</p>
<p>Seeing WashMom in her wedding dress at the entry door of the church.</p>
<p>Awww, WashDad!</p>
<p>Fresh moutain air, streams teeming with redthroats salmon, tall grasses waving in breeze, gentle reflection of snow-capped beautiful Tetons in the lake, and spotting wild horses as you drive in Montana…</p>