life is good

last week little m experienced her first snow storm.

as we walked (well, i did most of the walking) around the neighborhood and enjoyed the kind of muted world that can only be created by a thick blanket of snow, our other senses were free to explore without the interruption of sound.

the air was crisp and fresh. m was in something of a trance looking at the familiar sights around our neighborhood disguised in white. every time a snowflake hit part of her face (the only bit of skin exposed) she would gently close her eyes. it was as if she was savoring that ethereal moment right before the flake would melt against her skin.

that short walk was incredibly satisfying; even soul soothing.
then a week later i had a similarly euphoric moment

this time i was without little m. she was at home with erk (thinking about that alone makes me happy. seeing erk be a father to m is incredibly...satisfying(?) in this primitive sort of way...)

anway

i was at  longwood gardens for their special christmas display. the pictures online don't do the experience any justice.  the arrangements of plants inside the conservatory and the lighting displays hanging on and from the trees outside the conservatory are breathtakingly beautiful, even magical.

as i thought about when m would be old enough to enjoy all the lights and run down the gardens' extensive pathways i was literally "over"joyed. something about the fresh air, the beauty all around me and thinking about all the other moments our future would be made up of made me so incredibly happy.

as the remarkably successful company says: life is good