She was talking on her cell phone the first time I laid eyes on her.
We walked in the park – different directions.
Still within ear shot I heard her say, “I’m happy.”
I turned to her voice, assuming she was still on the phone.
But she was talking to the day.
Like a magnet, I was drawn in her direction.
Blonde dreadlocks, pulled back, revealed the round smiling face of an African American woman.
“Did you say ‘I’m happy?”
“Yes. I’m happy to be walking in this park, on this day, with all these beautiful trees in bloom.”
I hadn’t noticed.
And then I did.
Where had I been?
Nothing had changed and everything was different.
Nothing was different.
Only I had changed.
Because of her.
“What’s your name?”
“Lily – and yours?
“Anne”
“You are a beautiful woman Ms. Lily.”
“And so are you Ms. Anne”
And then she began to sing.
An ode to the day.
I resumed my walk.
Differently.
Looking up,
I noticed the trees.
The pink and white blooms.
The scent of Spring.
I smiled.
A big beaming smile.
As I left the park
A woman stopped her car and opened her window to say,
“What a beautiful dog you have.”
And I thought, what a beautiful day this is.
One that had almost slipped by, unnoticed.
Until that moment, when I heard Ms Lily greet the day.
I’m happy.
Nothing had changed and everything was different.
Nothing was different.
Only I had changed.
So I sing this song
An ode to Ms. Lily
For a pay it forward day of Happy
Listening to ocean waves receding over stones.
Enjoying the spontaneous expressions of young children who haven’t yet learned to hide their emotions.
Taking in the scent of freesias, lilacs or salt water.
Enjoying the great, or not so great, outdoors and all variations of nature’s gifts.
At the gym.