Avett Brothers Weekend, Finding Joy and Happiness, Monday Insight

“To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”
— Arundhati Roy

Good morning, I hope you slept well; I slept like a rock, my dream machine starting up early morning; what a fantastical tale I traveled.  I must share my sorrow for not delivering any soup yesterday; I woke up with a house of 6, we had eight on Friday and Saturday, I took some time to enjoy our friends.

Saturday, we went on a rather long hike, then headed back to meet our crew.  We left the house about 4:30 and then headed to Red Rocks.  Our group was my wife, me, our kid Carly, Josie, Bailey, Paul, Bailey, Nate, and Joshua.  We arrived at 5:00 and tailgated until 6:30 when we made the long trek to our seats.

The first act was ok; we all talked and watched the people; the people watching Red Rocks are something to behold.  No judgment, just straightforward enjoyment of humanity.  The Avett Brothers came out with their full band; they played a fantastic set; I was mesmerized; if you ever can catch this band at Red Rocks, make it part of your bucket list, and we will see you at the show.

Yesterday, we all got up and hung out on the deck; as people began to leave, Nate stayed with us, and we ran a couple of errands before a nice hike at Flying J Ranch.  Parker likes the pond there, and then we headed to the Well to get a bite to eat and hang with some friends.  There was some live music playing; we left after lunch and headed home to enjoy more deck time.  My wife planted some flowers; Nate and I listened to music and watched a deer hang out below.

We watched some silly T.V. before hitting the bed early.  Paul attended all three shows and got home about midnight.   The house is quiet; I’m sitting by my fireplace with my cup of coffee, PVHT is hanging out, and it looks to be another grand day.  I’ve got a few virtual calls, some project work that needs to be tended.  We have more company coming over tonight; our home is an entertainment station.

The world seems back to pre-pandemic times; it’s like the pandemic never happened.  As we get back to everyday life, I hope the lessons we learned in the last 18 months stick.  So what were those lessons?   I think for me, I realized I need not drive everywhere; virtual meetings are very effective.  I learned that human interaction should never be taken for granted, and our policymakers will grab as much power as they can during a crisis.

The media are beating the variant drum, some are recommending that fully vaccinated people still need to wear a mask, but I don’t think many will buy this propaganda.  We now know we were misinformed most of the last 18 months; the Faccui emails contain a bevy of mistruths and lies.  

My wife just graced me with her presence.  She walked down the steps, I got my morning sugar, and now she will organize the kitchen after sipping her first cup of joe.  PVHT is now walking around and will be having breakfast.  Our guests are asleep; I think they are taking off today.

I suspect we will work until three or so, then take the pup for a hike before returning home and meeting our company.  We are getting a new piece of furniture delivered, our neighbor is a craftsman, and we commissioned him for an article for our entryway.  A mix of beetle kill and aspen trees will be a centerpiece welcoming all who come for a visit.

I hope these words find you well; I hope you too enjoyed the weekend with family, friends, music, and food.  I am learning that I can find joy in the simplest of things.  I no longer look to the next thing to make me happy.  I’m joyful as I type these words; I can find happiness in the simplest of things.

The words you are reading are written by a man that has found his truth, his way, his light, if you will.  I am a living, breathing example of what one can become if they first discover themself and then learn tools and tips to enjoy life every moment.  My dog just brought me a toy; I threw it, that’s joyful.  My next cup of coffee will bring a smile to my face, as is the sunrise that is happening to my right.  There is beauty, love, and joy all around you. So stop trying to be someone you are not; lean into you and see the beauty the world has to offer.

“To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never to forget.”
— Arundhati Roy