In Appreciation…….. of the small pleasures of life..

Zeena Singh For Eastern Mirror Sunday

Hello folks,
I believe that life has so much to give if only we cared to give a little thought to the most minuscule of joys (which we’d find so much of) only if we’d stop looking at the looming discomforts and discontents.
So here I am, to share with you the simplest joys in my life as I have experienced some time in my life and those that I take as I face each day, at a time.Happiness is….
……..no greater pleasure than the joy of experiencing another’s elation.
My moment of thrill occurred on a rainy August morning. Sitting at the back porch of my kitchen on the first floor, overlooking my neighbour’s backyard, with coffee mug in hand, I am enraptured in the thrill of another’s exhilaration.
In a reverie, I watched the rain wash over every tree, plant and shrub. The all -night rain is a patter now, but sufficient to have formed several puddles, and great big pools.
Suddenly an unexpected keyed up squawk, a flap of wings and a splash! brings me back. A pair of Chinese ducks fly across the yard diving right into the muddy brown luxurious extravagance of a puddle.
They roll, splatter and spray it all over, spreading their wings to its utmost expanse and then rolingl splattering and spraying all over again in sheer ecstasy and delight. Pruning their wings and back, scratching the top of their heads and stomachs they’re ready to roll, splatter and spray many times over.
With a stoop of their heads they race back, necks craned forward. A quick wag of their tails and back they are on their feet and extended wings. Another wiggle a woggle, a quick shuffle of their feet, and they jump in, dunking beaks, chin, neck and all.
Squawking every once a while…each screech expressing tumultuous joy and thrill.
Watching, I feel the beat and rhythm of their hearts, abuzz with unspoken joyfulness and enjoyment. I can’t help the smile in being able to share in their moment of bliss.

In the Sky His handiwork I see..
An early morning in June, which usually spells mid-summer and the start of the monsoons, when all you’d expect is clouds and a sultry day. My June morning had an unexpected starched fresh crispness in the air, the kind that one would expect to find in Spring or on a tropical Autumn.
The sky was at its bluest best, no sight of even a wisp of a white cloud. The leaves of trees, shrubs, bushes, plants of every kind sparkled radiantly in all shades of green that ever an artist could paint.
The sun shone, yes! At her brightest, yet the heat emitted could not hurt or harm even the tenderest skin.
No, this was not the effect of falling in love, but I did that day. I fell in love once again with the Creator of the heavens and earth. Nothing but that which comes from His bounty could have been so perfect. My heart sang, I felt a quietness and serenity a sense of cheerful harmony with everything around me and within. A peace that passeth ALL understanding…

‘To Taste Buds’
My big thrill at the moment is ‘SAVOUR’, the place where I most unexpectedly savoured delightfully delicious dumplings (widely known as ‘momos’). My appreciation of the momos is not because it satiated the gastronomical rush, but more because of what it looked like, felt and tasted.. P-E-R-F_E_C-T.
It’s tininess was a neat mouthful the outer covering rightly paper thin, a staggering feat in the preparation..
My fancy stepped up a notch with the ‘tea cakes’ so mmmeltingly sofft, so fresh, sweetened ideally to the taste buds..exactly as you’d expect it to be, baking in Grandma’s or Mother’s oven. The hand/ s behind these scrumptious culinary delicacies deserve much more than a pat on the back. Well done, SAVOUR!