Happiness according to travelwoman 1/27/11

Thank you for all the conversations and great ideas. Communicating through the blog was a great experience and now I have some more creative ideas for teaching. My happiness includes you ::))

The meaning of happiness creeps up on me. It is always like this. I've traveled often, yet, this feeling of exhilaration is like a slow intoxication. It always surprises.

Sitting in the cafe today I again realized a sense of happiness. Lately, I've found the words to name it. In front of me was a good book and a cup of warm decaf. I felt the tiredness in my muscles, but the soreness was less and I'd had a good night's sleep. I was rested enough to think and, therefore, the memories tumbled in and, I again felt a sense of achievement. I'd done it again - made a plan to travel and executed it. It was like having an unknown "bucket list" and recognizing the achievement of a goal in the middle of a surprise party.

This feeling of happiness cannot be stymied by my body's intent to let me know that I am middle aged. The sense of freedom erased the damage to my hip the drunk driver donated and the accidental strain on my lower back. I walked free for almost 20 days in Guyana and the feeling of control of my own actions was in itself a high. Forging ahead with my own dream to create educational programs in Guyana made me feel light in the midst of fighting the middle age spread. Actually, these travels also continue to motivate me to be physically healthy. So, back to those spin classes in Santa Barbara.

As time passes and I travel, the meaning of my life becomes even more clear and my personal smile stretches and stretches. The sense of freedom comes with a growing confidence and the knowledge that I am moving in the right direction.

I must also say that this sense of happiness also comes because of love and it enhances my ability to love. None of this is possible without the warm affection and continued support of loved ones. I must thank my mother for giving me both of these gifts. And, I recognize that in giving me these gifts she made it possible for me to find bonds with so many others.

Sinead shared this poem with me and now I'm sharing with you

The Sensual Art
for Elspeth
Chadd Cumberbatch and Ward Minnis

Me like to take a fresh one
in the morning time
to calm me mind.

Me caress the skin
slow and steady.
lt red, ripe and voluptuous.
Beads of dew roll off the curve just so
straining for ground
like the wanton sweat that form
on me tongue.

Me select me best knife.
Well sharp.
One that only use for this,
Me get me special plate.
Huh-huh!
Almost ready....

Wait!
Me must close the curtain.
Can't have them prying eyes
in this relationship.
No Manicou Macko to put me life
on Front Street.

In the darkness
me sit and me study it.
It wetness.
It readiness.
It ripeness.
Talk to me
understand
me not just some casual lover.
Me mean business.

Me check again to make sure it just....
Me slice.
Slow sweet juice ooze onto me fingers.
One started spurt escape to the plate.
...Me go deal with that later.

Me so tired of this foreplay.
It take real restraint
to make the first bite slow.
Tender taut flesh.

Then that flavor rush me,
catch wind in me throat,
like a left-over rhythm from Carnival morning.
The beat, the beat.
Me swallow
It wash over me.
quiet like sunset
satisfying as a September rain.
Is sunshine going through me belly
and out through me skin.

Me stir warm from me reverie
And me look at the yellow scraggly seed.
Me wipe up the evidence with paper towel
while me pluck the hair from me teeth.
I ready now to pull back the curtain
and allow them outside eyes back in.