Frozen ice pops fresh from the freezer on a molten hot day. Stop signs are sliding into puddles, but frenzied fire hydrants sputter their guts onto the side walks. Drops aerosolizing and plummet with a plop on glistening skin sweat. It slides along the face and down the chin. The lips and teeth are busy running away from each and into a crescent contraption.
Every day, I would get off the bus and squat down so I can reach my shoes. I would engage the ignition buttons on each shoe and get ready for lift off. A burst of energy, so powerful that light couldn’t catch up. How else would you explore the universe?
One of those hot days, stuck in the third story apartment house, I sat in the wicker swing, wrapped in the cradle of the wicker cocoon. Hanging from a bronze linked chain, I would push back with my feet until the chain would began to creek in tension. I’d let go. The rockets were ignited and were ready for lift off. With each swing, the ship would continue to gain momentum. 1000 miles per hours, 56000 miles per hour, 1,000,000 miles per hour, time started to stand still in my space ship.
Now, I feel so self-righteous that I carry around my black rain coat in my backpack and always have an umbrella when it rains. Those poor fools have to get soaked, while I’m mostly dry. Only if they thought ahead, like I did.
Snap back to reality, when a real monsoon started the assault on that same sun soaked veranda at my great aunt’s house. Barricaded by boredom, I broke out of the monotony as soon as I heard the pummeling puddles and cracks of thunder. I tore open my suitcase, and threw everything on the ground. Shed my tee shirt, and clad myself in my swim suit armor. When I ran outside, the tiled floor was so submerged that it resembled an aquarium. I splashed around in the waist deep water that had formed instantly. I turned my gazed and found that an impromptu waterfall had formed from the stairs running from the roof. With so much water funneling through, I knew I had to feel it’s force. Emerged from the frothing water that consumed my torso, I began to fight the current that had conquered the steps. My little body, made it’s way up the very top. Here there was no protection from the full might of monsoon. The clouds, dark and puffy , and dense blankets of rain engulfing everything in sight. I got to the center of the roof, opened my mouth, and started to spin as fast as I can. Agape to let the torrent wash over my eyes, my nose, and my mouth, and my chest. Arms out wide, while angular momentum kept my feet sloshing in circles. I was there, and that was it. I was there to witness the mighty forces of nature, and I succumbed to it because I was a part of it.
Joy is when we are our authentic self, free from all constraints and limitations. Allowing yourself to surrender for a second. To unleash the wild, infinity that lurks within you. Colorful, delicious, textured, powerful, fragrant, fast, warm, friendly, fragile experience that you will go after without a care. We will chase butterflies on our bikes and climb trees because we want to.
Amorphous rainbows swirl around in the delicate transparent spheres for a few seconds. I can balance one, and look even two! Blow harder, and a spurious number flare out in a straight line and are swept away by the wind. It’s fun to pop them with your mighty hands, and see them implode into oblivion.
Look, I made a crown for you. “ Mama had a daughter, and the head popped off.” It’s simple, just wrap the green end around the fluffy head and tie it into a knot.
Happy is simple, radiant, brave, and fearless. We are open, and inflate in all directions like a beach ball without end. Tenuous from learned tenderness, we forget that carry we sparks. A gentle reminder that the world is a place to play, explore, and connect.