VIVID HAPPINESS
A baseline for happiness I remember is
how Mom & I’d tear through
the autumn countryside
in our econobox car
after church
It was in Kirtland Hills curviness,
drippy leaves, raw water grass
good place for zealots
Take me for a ride, I’d ask–
no thoughts of gas, all that is
involved in that–
we were just happy
to drive
In church my mind buzzed in preteen,
then teenage excitement about
universal ideals, togetherness,
respect for each preached
in UU pulpit, youth group
The vibrancy of the lessons
opening my heart like a gate
pouring out and letting in
to protect everyone
Some kind of
restless leg syndrome
I ached to do important,
good stuff, for sure
I was set more alive
for those drives
~ Lady