On being happy

Not sure why, and god only knows how long it will last, but I’ve been feeling pretty happy as of late.

Fall in Parco di Gocciadoro

Maybe it’s the change in season? The crisp fall chill of Trento reminds me a lot of the return-to-school weather of my childhood on Long Island.  Maybe it’s finding myself lucky enough to work with a growing team at Reclaim Hosting that is constantly inspiring me? Gotta have something to do with.

Duke!

The Duke!

Duke! It’s gotta be Duke!!! What would the world be like without a dog like Duke? Worse, for sure.

container

The long awaited container!

But then I am thinking about the recent container full of stuff from America that arrived on Italy’s shores early last month, filled with memories from a former house in what seems like a former life. Not to mention that small piece of Reclaim Arcade that arrived with various media formats and 14 golden age arcade game cabinets that help me while away the time. I know that’s it.

Venture with Test Pattern Color Bar

Whiling away too much time trying to fix Venture

Or maybe it’s the impromptu sets on ds106radio that are responsible. I have to believe listening to friends share what they love on the radio waves, and then responding in kind has to help re-wire your brain for happiness.

Maybe it’s the joy of sharing an office with my youngest son in the bavacrypt. Hearing him narrate his latest boss conquest on Elden Ring, or return to the From Software ouevre to take on some of the most cinematically awesome creatures I’ve ever seen. Maybe it’s how much of me I see in him, and how much that fills me with happiness, as well as the concomitant concerns knowing what I know. But, at the same time, knowing that’s not destiny, and being happy again!

Tommaso in Val di Rabbe

Tommy Tile!

Or maybe it’s related to being a certain age, and seeing my oldest leave the nest and head out into the wilds of a European capital all on his own. The fear is overshadowed by the sense of hope and possibility—the only things worth a damn.

Miles the Red Baron

Miles the Red Baron

Actually, it occurs to me it has everything to do with a recently turned 16 year old wonder that I still share a roof with, and who regularly blows my mind with her depth and strength. Got be that!

Photos don't come easy anymore

Photos don’t come easy anymore

Then again, it might well be that I am coming up on 20 years of marriage with the love of my life.

Anto in Sicily!

Anto in Sicily!

There’s a thin line between happiness and everything else, and I’m mindful of the minefield that is life, and how many near misses I have accumulated in my short time here. That thought can sometimes spiral and cause abysmal dread followed by a soul-deep shiver at what could have been that rocks me at my very core. But today is not that day, today I am happy and there are many potential reasons why, but I tend to think the last few might really be the source of my happiness.

Oh wait, I almost forgot, maybe it’s Daphne!

Daphne is a fine, fine hiking companion.

Regardless, there is one thing I’m absolutely sure of, it’s definitely not Cloudy!

cloudy

Definitely not!

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12 Responses to On being happy

  1. Alex Masters says:

    Erm, Cloudy should be worshipped!

    So happy for you Jim, may every day feel this good. ?

  2. Lauren Heywood says:

    This is such a sweet post! I’m very happy you’re happy. Keep doing you Jim 🙂

  3. Alan Levine says:

    Cue the swelling orchestra, we can hear this blog is turning into a musical! Best to you and the family, and joyed to see the kids no longer kids— speaking of happy, the Kids Were Alright https://flic.kr/p/boGQZe

    Also, more dog!

  4. Brian says:

    Love this. Seeing you happy makes me happy.

  5. Andy Rush says:

    #NOBODY (forever etched in stone on the UNF campus)!

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