Playfulness

 

Woke up at smiling at 3:15 a.m., thinking about walking barefoot through a mud puddle, feeling the squish of cool-warm ooze between bare toes, my bare feet wiped clean on damp grass, ready for another.

Strange thing to be thinking about in the wee small hours of the morning – and surprisingly satisfying.  One of the great small pleasures of childhood. 

Feels like childhood is strewn with great small pleasures.  It seems that the older we get, the dimmer & more distant is our capacity for gleeful happiness, for not only experiencing the blissed out joy of mud puddles, but even for seeing them.  In this, I was singularly blessed to have two unique influences in my life – my mother & older sister, only sister.

At her memorial celebration, my oldest brother described Mom as someone who could glory in a small patch of meadow, a stand of iris.  That was her, all right.  And my sister had a talent for making celebrations out of even the smallest, apparently inconsequential moments.  Both saw savored celebrated the mud puddles in their life.

Both Mom & Mim knew the value of playfulness.  And perhaps that is the special something that I bring to working across the spectrum of ages, from decorating cupcakes with kids at a local farm market to bopping off to Philadelphia for a night of jazz with an older friend.  Playfulness. 

Sometimes, it’s just resting your hand on a shoulder, giving a smile, sharing a cheery HULLO! 

 

 

One woman at an older friend’s senior residence always struck me as more than quiet - she seemed alone, withdrawn.  For months, I’ve made a point of noticing her, calling her by name, placing my hand on her arm or shoulder, always grinning like crazy.  Every time.  The other day, as my friend & I dined in the informal dining room, the woman approached our table, asking - "May I join you?"  We were delighted!  For the entire meal, she chatted like a happy magpie.  We learned about her, she learned about us.  From first course through dessert, she was one huge smile. 

That experience brought home with renewed force the power of playfulness   Perhaps it's just that I play well with others,was blessed with a playful spirit that beckons friends of all ages to join the fun.   

That's true for every creature on the planet.  Don’t need a mud puddle, or even a small bit of meadow with stands of iris – just a playful spirit & someone with whom to share it!

 

“It isn't much fun for One, but Two,  can stick together," says Pooh, says he.  "That's how it is," says Pooh.