Ordinary Joy and Gratitude

My walk this morning brought me to tears.  This may sound maudlin, but I love my All-American neighborhood

I love the artfully designed and well-cared-for front yards ~ the tall, breeze-catching trees that line the streets ~ the smell of a freshly cut lawn ~ the sound of kids playing in my local park ~ the alternating brilliant sunshine and dappled shade ~ the pets and their people ~ the houses that started out the same but have taken on their owners' characters over the years ~ the neighbors who lives in these houses.

I love that my All-American neighborhood sits in an All-American town.  It is clean.  It is safe.  It is beautiful.  And it's a short drive away from one of the most exciting cities in the world.

Make no mistake, things are not perfect in my perfect-looking town.  But for right now, today, this moment, I am going to bathe in the joy and gratitude I feel for the ordinary, the every day, the simple pleasures of my All-American neighborhood.