He makes me so very happy. Vin, free-form DJ, now doing his shows on WFUV, Fordham NYC and on Sirius Satellite radio. His shows are magic, they transport me to places in my mind and feelings that I only go during special times in my life. No one, repeat, no one can spin them like Vin. I used to listen to him between marriages in my Brooklyn Heights apartment on Monroe St., in 1977-1980. He had some midnight shows at that time, as well as Sunday mornings. It was only Vin and me, sharing beautiful mixes of sounds in the ether. Wonderful. I’m listening to his show now and it makes me happy.

The sound of the birds chirping outside the window when I’m meditating.

Music make me happy.

My zen garden makes me happy. And even better, it helps me ponder happiness.

www.PriUPS.com/riklblog/nov06/061106-serendipity.htm

Re: Question what makes you happy.
Hi happiness. I am happy full stop. Life is too short not to be and waste time thinking about regrets and such. Only if you are happy can you look at what’s wrong in the world, the neighbours, the weather, the public transports, the climate change, the environment being ruined, crazy people killing people and other animals one by one or en masse.
Only happiness can make you strong enough to try and change what’s wrong by adding your individual tiny contribution.
Colette

in no particular order, this makes me happy
-leaving work..and..
-a job well done
-sunlight dappling the trees
-crystal blue oceans
-getting a big hug from the bf
-talking (and laughing) with old friends who know me really well
-wine (currently any new zealand sauvignon blanc)
-the fab faux
-flight of the conchords

Jono — Mmmm, an interesting reply.
Luis — What?
Jono — Toby replied to something Kidd wrote.
Luis — Kidd writes?
Jono — Lets say he attempts to and leave it at that.
Luis — So what did I miss?
Jono — It’s rhetorical in nature actually.
Luis — There you go speaking italian again.
Jono — It was a well thought out response.
Luis — To what?
Jono — Jeeze, to something Kidd wrote. Don’t you listen?
Luis — To you? Yeah right.
Jono — Some friend you turned out to be.
Luis– I’m the only one you have - so get over yourself.
Jono — Let me ask you a question Luis? Seriously?
Luis — You want me to be serious?
Jono — Just this once.
Luis — I’m listening.
Jono — It’s not an easy question mind you. You’ll need to take some time before answering.
Luis — It doesn’t have to do with math does it?
Jono — No math. Just a serious question is all.
Luis — What do you want to know?
Jono — Are you happy?
Luis — What kind of question is that?
Jono — It’s a simple question. What are you getting all bent out of shape about?
Luis — It’s a personal question!
Jono — There you go making something larger than life again!
Luis — Am not!
Jono — Are too!
Luis — Not!
Jono — Yeah!
Luis — I don’t know what to say.
Jono — Well, just think about it for a second.
Luis — A second? Come on man - like I need longer than that.
Jono — A minute then.
Luis — Give me a second - it’s like those damn favorite lists you ask me for every year.
Jono — This is different — that’s temporary.
Luis — Well there you go making it even more difficult.
Jono — Whatdya mean?
Luis — It’s not like I’m happy everyday you know.
Jono — What not?
Luis — It’s impossible.
Jono — You think?
Luis — Well yeah of course I think.
Jono — Ok come on you’re wasting time.
Luis — How can someone hurry up about being happy?
Jono — Good point. Ok, just give me an example for today?
Luis– You mean right now?
Jono — Yes.
Luis — Nektar.
Jono — What?
Luis — I spent the day listening to my old Nektar albums. It made be  happy.
Jono — Nektar?
Luis — Yeah - A Tab In The Ocean and Rememer The Future.
Jono — That makes you happy?
Luis — It did yes, today.
Jono — Maybe that’s how it works huh?
Luis– Whaydya mean?
Jono — It cannot be summed up so easily like you said.
Luis — What?
Jono — Today, you were happy because you were able to enjoy some old prog-rock albums. And tomorrow - who knows what will make you smile. It’s an evolutionary thing.
Luis — Evolutionary?
Jono — Yup. Like there are standard things that make you happy one day and not the next.
Luis — You mean I won’t enjoy my Nektar albums tomorrow.
Jono — Don’t be an idiot! Of course you will — but they may not give you as much pleasure.
Luis — But I really like my Nektar albums.
Jono — It’s a time and place thing Luis. Like someone’s wedding day or the birth of a child.
Luis — You lost me!
Jono — It’s perfect on that day - at that moment in time and you can  always close your eyes and remember how it felt to say I do or WOOOOOWWEEE IT’S  A BOY! Or YIPPPIIEEE IT’S A GIRL! But then, you get used to the situation and responsibility kicks in and you may not be as happy as should be all the  time.
Luis — Way overthinking it man! You need to just chill some!
Jono — It’s a lot like Kidd’s book that he just published.
Luis — Is this a selfless promotionary gimmick?
Jono — Stop - I’m being serious. He learned a thing or two about real happiness writing that book.
Luis– Yeah I guess he would — hell anyone would if they read it.
Jono — That’s just it Luis — you can’t make people be happy. They have to want to be happy.
Luis — That’s kind of depressing.
Jono — Reality isn’t easy to digest.
Luis — So Jono, what makes you happy?
Jono — I thought you would never ask!
Luis — I’m going to be sorry I did ain’t I?
Jono — I love the summer you know — but man-o-man I’m an fall  man!
Luis — So you’re the fall guy?
Jono — Funny Luis — real funny.
Luis — I had to say it -  sorry. What about the fall makes you  happy?
Jono — Surrender.
Luis — Excuse me?
Jono — The way the leaves surrender from the trees. Filling up the streets and back yards.
Luis — That makes you happy? And I suppose you fully enjoy picking them  all up?
Jono — I said I like to watch them surrender - not lay there dying.
Luis — So, ok you see beauty in things alot of people take for granted and even misery?
Jono — Something like that.
Luis — You sure are a stange dude Jono.
Jono — Always a dreamer Luis - always a dreamer.
Luis — Yeah well if you don’t have dreams you have nightmares.
Jono — I always loved that movie!
Luis — Diner right?
Jono — Yeah! It makes me happy!
Luis — I guess there’s all kinds of things that make you happy. But  staying happy is the big climb.
Jono — You know ole Jack Kerouac climbed all the way up a mountain in The Dharma Bums only to realize he liked the view better at the bottom.
Luis — Ole Jack’s book on The Road is going to be 50 years old this  week.
Jono — Now see that makes me happy too. Like knowing I got it while others still put it aside as beat generation slop poetry.
Luis — Listen Jono — we could probably talk for hours about Kerouac and stuff — but I gotta go.
Jono — Where to?
Luis — I got a date.
Jono — Really? Do I know her?
Luis — Sort of. Lets say you used to know her.
Jono — You’re dating someone I used to know? How is that possible? I mean  I didn’t forget anyone.
Luis — It’s complicated.
Jono — Come on Luis?
Luis — Promise you won’t get mad?
Jono — How can I make a promise like that?
Luis– Because you’re happy. You said so yourself.
Jono — Ok, who is it?
Luis — Dorothy Bernstein.
Jono — Now why would I care if you were having a date with Dorothy Bernstein?
Luis — You mean it doesn’t bother you?
Jono — Not at all - I’m happy for you.
Luis — Wow that’s a relief - because she told me you were like the worst boyfriend she ever had.
Jono — Dorothy Bernstein said that about me?
Luis — Sorry, I should have kept that to myself.
Jono — Well you can tell Dorothy Bernstein to go stand under a damn  tree!
Luis — What kind of stupid put down is that?
Jono — Surrender Dorothy! Surrender!
Luis — Say goodnight Jono
Jono — Good night Jono.

_http://outskirtspress.com/webpage.php?isbn=1432707434_

This sort of thing:

Him:
Happy,
darling?

Her: Mmmm, yes.

Him:
What are you
thinking?

Her: Oh, nothing.  I, I was just remembering something you once said about three things, three phrases that always crop up when an affair is coming to an end.

Him:
I’ve
forgotten.

Her:
One was “Happy, darling?”, one was “What are you thinking?”…
I don’t remember what the third one was.

Him:
Silly
darling!

<Long pause>

I love
you.

Her: Oh, yes, that was it.

— “Happy, darling?” Eleanor Bron & John Fortune

Butterflies.
Seeing a tiger swallowtail (the big yellow and black ones) chugging nectar out of the flowers behind the library.
Three monarch sightings in one day.

My cat Jessie greeting me with a nose boop.