Saturday Klep and I spent the day in Tallahassee. It was a very special day full of laughter, conversation, and joy. Did we take in the sights? spend the day shopping the malls? Take in a concert or movie?
No, we simply enjoyed the day, sharing some work, some good food, and some quality time with Rob and Traci. Rob has been planning a water feature for Traci for several years now. Because of their work schedules, it had never progressed beyond the hole stage. We had planned to go over last summer and lend a hand, but with one thing and another, we hadn't gone and the pond was still primarily a dream. Now, having been married to the father of this eldest son for over forty years, I know about dreams deferred! I know that things always, in our family, take longer than we think when we are in the eager anticipation stage.
So, as we sat in our chairs at home midweek, we decided to see if they were free for a work day; they were. So, early Saturday morning saw us headed in Big Blue for Tallahassee. The guys worked for awhile and then made the inevitable trip to Lowe's. I am a Home Depot person, but our men seem to prefer Lowe's. They were gone for a while. Traci and I whiled away our time with the cats. Jasmine, particularly, needed a little love.
After their return, we finalized the hole, spread the liner, and threaded the electrical wire through the conduit. Then the hot work of digging the trench began.
After a break for a really good curry chicken citrus pasta salad and all the trimmings, we went back out. Klep scooted himself under the deck to do the hookup to the electrical while Rob glued conduit and started the water into the pond. We all got a good laugh when Klep had to be dragged out by his feet from under the deck!
The guys worked on switches and outlets and such most of the rest of the afternoon as the water rose in the pond. We topped off the afternoon with a frozen orange dessert served in a scopped out orange complete with orange lid. When we left, the project was to the landscaping stage. We look forward to seeing it soon as the dream becomes reality.
There are other days which share in our joy folder. One that immediately comes to mind was the last day we spent with Kevin, Reagan, Ava Grace, and Leila Kate as we celebrated Ava Grace's third birthday. Another was the day we met our most recent granddaughter. Other days have been joyful as we floated around the pool together, taking in the colors, sounds, and smells of summer.
What is remarkable is that our really big joys are not our trips and events. Now, don't get me wrong, we enjoy travelling, but it isn't equal to this type joy. Big joy times are the hours spent with people we love. Some of our most joyful moments have been spent with Anne in the yard or sitting in the clubhouse on top of the swing set with AG blowing bubbles, watching the airplanes and birds, and just laughing.
Sometimes we look for the joy too hard; it is a close as someone we love.
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