In the later part of a grand few days last weekend, I was very aware while doing the activity I was doing, that the time had felt simply perfect. I felt absolutely content.

I had taken five days out of Florida life to zip back to Maryland for a family wedding. The days were packed with family and friendship. I played pickleball four days in a row, laughed heartily, had quality time with my brother Danny, my sister Pamela, and two nephews, dined out on Love Day with "my Valentines" (son Dante and his girl Cori, plus her parents), visited a few aunts, uncles, and cousins, hugged and danced with a slew of Molinos at the wedding, learned that my baby Angel would be visiting us in Florida, ate delicious dinners, slept solidly, and loved.

All the stars were aligned in my Universe for six whole days. Then I flew back safely to Flamingoland - wearing a wide grin and with a full heart.

Sometimes, snippeteers, it "all lines up." And OH! what a glorious feeling that is!

And sometimes it doesn't. Life is a mix of dark / light, good / bad, happy / sad, frustration / satisfaction, and some foul cups of coffee. We've all had those crappy days (or few hours) when our technology goes berserk, a spat erupts with a loved one, the dumb car won't start, the crazy Beltway is loaded with traffic and makes us late, we hear of someone's death, the power blinks off after a windstorm, our wanky back goes out, the credit card bill is late, the pup pukes on the carpet, someone you love falls, and your friend snitches a French fry off your plate without permission.

Annoyance. It's Murphy's Law: The idea that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. We already know these Life Happens moments - and shall we remind ourselves they are truly "First World Problems!" Still, annoyances are not amusing - cue the popcorn kernel stubbornly stuck in your tooth.

The drastic comparison of that flotsam & jetsam next to the feel-goods - the bliss - everything lining up ever-so-marvelously - times we want to wear our LIFE IS GOOD T-shirts ... well, those happy spans are simply a day-brightener, a soul-filler, a violet-blue mood ring day. We say, "AHHHHH" and feel utterly complete.

We do not know why ... or how ... or if ... or when ... a day / month / year will line up befittingly ... when all is well ... when everything feels just and proper. But when it happens, snippeteers, please ...

1) notice it

2) accept it

2) savor it heartily

3) don't rush past it

Times like these are the opposite of Murphy's Law ... it is Yhprum's Law (Murphy spelled backwards), stating the simple formula of "everything that can work, will work."

We are deserving of it. You are deserving of it. I am deserving of it. It is a true blessing coming in strongly and fully. It is The Universe loving us, taking care of us, looking out for us.

TAKE IT.

On a "bad day," just think of a time when "it all lined up," then assist yourself to grin and begin again.



"Your poem was lovely. Thanks for sharing. I hope your rebuilding is going well." ~ Melanie in Marriottsville, Maryland

"You are the best. You nailed the poem. Thanks. You always make me stop and reflect. I need to do it more often." ~ Blessings, Lesley G in Maryland

"Totally agree about technology knowing when it can mess with us! My printer has been acting the fool and I think it was updated when I wasn't paying attention. I'm taking it back to its original settings to see what happens. I'm very impressed that you went in there and tried to figure it out. It can be overwhelming.

I very much enjoyed your poem. Nature has been very trying but also offers the respite to cope. When life and circumstances get to be too much, I will be definitely taking some moments to regroup and refresh. Keep on keeping on!" ~ Cindy B in Maryland

"I laughed when I read about you and the printer, because immediately before I read that, I was at war with my printer. It always acts up just when I need to print off a 20-page itinerary for an elderly client who does not 'do phone apps.' " ~ Love, Denise F in Long Island, New York

"Brava! Please repost this one regularly. Anyone who trades in the use of electronic or digital devices are visited all too often by these frustrations and we need reminders! Today your sage SNIPPETS wisdom reminds me to remind myself, what one definition of insanity is: doing the same thing over and over and over, and expecting a different result." ~ Deb C in NRB, Florida

"I think printers are psychic and just KNOW when you are not in the mood to fart around ... they seem to be cosmic forces that remind us to slow down, breathe, and just walk away. At least this is what happens with mine ... no matter what brand! Maybe they are cursed with a perpetual Mercury Retrograde chip!" ~ xoxoxo, jeanie in salem, massachusetts



The Angel of Death knocked one day at the door of a certain man.

“Do make yourself at ease,” said the man, “I’ve been expecting you.”

“I haven’t come for pleasant conversation,” said the Angel, “but to take your life.”

“And what else could you take from me?” the man asked.

“I don’t know,” said the Angel. “Everyone, whenever I arrive, would like me to take anything, any other thing at all, except their lives. If you only knew what things I have been offered!”

“Not me,” said the man. “I have nothing else to give you. The blessings that have come my way, I have enjoyed. My worries and anxieties, I have thrown to the wind. My doubts, problems, and inquietudes, I have burned to warm myself at the fire of hope. I never sought nor accumulated worldly wealth. My smile, I gave to anyone who asked it of me. My heart, I gave freely to all I have loved and who have loved me. And my soul - I have entrusted completely to God. Take my life then, as I have nothing else left to offer.”

The Angel of Death lifted the man and found he was as light as a feather. To the man, the Angel’s embrace felt most gentle and reassuring.

And the Lord God opened wide the gates of Heaven, for a Saint was about to enter.