Finding Happiness in All the Right Places

A Good Vibes Club Challenge

Happiness is usually right around the corner.

Who is a friend or family member who makes you smile, and why? Harland is a friend. He is 98 and a former Professor of English. I see him every Thursday with a gaggle of other retired professors. He’s the oldest by two years. No, he’s not stuffy but still very professorial. He always wore a blue button-downed Oxford cloth shirt with a bowtie when he taught. The last time we played golf, three years ago, he kept the shirt but ditched the tie. That’s Harlan in the photo. Doesn’t he make you smile? He’s my Mr. Chips.

What’s your favorite song that brings a smile to your face? Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville for two reasons. It was released in the summer of 1977 when I and thousands of others rode bikes across Iowa as part of The Des Moines Registers Annual Bike Ride Across Iowa. Bikers with boomboxes — new in the mid-seventies — played this hit daily, and it never failed to give me a giddy-up.

Two years ago, a retired Luther College professor gave a talk on Jimmy Buffett. He played a few Buffett songs as part of his lecture, including Margaritaville. Ten seconds into this joyful ditty, the audience of primarily other retired academics broke into song, proving forever that my former colleagues were human.

Do you have a favorite pet that fills your heart with love? My parents surprised their three sons with a beagle in 1955. As we were opening Christmas presents, my brother Peter noticed a box that housed the Thanksgiving turkey in the corner, which was moving.

We would name him Sam, who lived for 17 years, blind and arthritic in his last days but still gamely following Mom around the house, including up and down stairs. Sam gave us all joy throughout our childhood and teenage years. Five adults cried when my Dad took him away the final time.

What’s your favorite quote that makes you feel good? From Jerry West, former NBA star, coach, and executive.

You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good.

I write first thing in the morning, at 4 am. It is now 4:54. Often, I don’t feel like putting my fingers on my MacBook Air. But I do it daily for reasons most of you writers will understand. Feelings come and go. The writing stays around.

What’s your favorite way to spend a day off? I’m lucky. I spent 40 years in the classroom, so I got used to days off every summer. Retirement since 2018 is an extended summer filled with activities. One rule helps, no TV during the day.

What is a time that a stranger shared kindness with you? Yesterday, I stopped to talk with a young woman doing street art. Tatiana smiled as I exited the car, so I felt comfortable asking about her work. We chatted for about 20 minutes, and I learned a bit about her work, which I will write about in another story. That’s Tatiana below.

What is your favorite book or movie that brings you joy when you read or watch it? Hoosiers is one of my favorite films that brings me joy. I’ve watched this movie about an underdog 1950s high school basketball team at least once yearly since it debuted in 1986. It’s a great sport, love, and redemption story.

What’s your favorite food? Ice cream and nothing else comes close. A dip of Breyers’ Chocolate and one of Häägen Dazs’ Vanilla Swiss Almond will be my last meal of choice.

What is something you’ve done recently that makes you proud? If I said I played a round of gold with Ron would you laugh? Ron is a new friend and an excellent golfer. We had last played about a year ago when I shanked my way around the course. If you golf, you know the shank takes all the joy out of the game.

A few days ago, I texted Ron to see if he was interested in 18 holes. I assumed he would politely decline because who wants to spend three hours with a duffer? He responded within seconds that tomorrow at 8:30 worked.

So I You Tubed how to cure a shank and met him at the course. Despite my protest, he paid for our round and the cart. My only shank came on hole #16. The lesson of this day was about more than golf.

What’s a goal that you’re working toward? To be a better person tomorrow than today.

What color makes you feel happy? Green the color of spring.

Over the past week, what is something that brought you a moment of joy? Rebecca’s son Jonathan and family have been visiting from Houston, Texas, for the past week. One of the things Ron and I talked about during our golf outing was how wonderful it was to meet someone late in life who has a likable family whose members also like you. Ron met his partner Jeannie two years ago, and Rebecca and are now in year 13.

Thanks to Trisha Faye for this prompt. It made me feel good to write these responses. Also, to read Indirah Ambrose’s answers.