Filled to bursting with happy...

I was going to write about the happy but Jess did such a good job that I kinda feel like I'm plagiarizing but I have to save the memory in this more concrete way so I can look back on it and remember what that felt like...

I thought about one or two missing pieces and how much I'd love to hear the ocean behind the crackle of the fire. I had a moment of anticipatory sadness, thinking about future missing pieces. But I believe it was good that those things were there because if the evening had made me smile any wider, laugh any harder or try to contain any more happiness inside, I believe I would have hurt myself in some way.

I can not explain why it felt so good to be surrounded by those people at that time. To be unendingly overjoyed with each new song that was played, each snippet of conversation had and overheard, each cheerful glance across the fire. I have no "I enjoyed it because..." I can not intellectualize it in any way. It was simply one of those moments when everything felt exactly RIGHT and nothing else mattered for that one fleeting moment in time. I just know I was unbelievably, uncontainably happy.

I just know I am eternally grateful for that moment.

Thanks be to all of you who were there. And thanks be for all of you as well. Hugs to you all and much love.