Watching Joy
CRACK, with no more warning then the jolt from the thunder a storm had enveloped the old town of Vilnius; the black clouds descending, the rain marching through the streets. I only had enough time to find a doorway which would become my refuge in the deluge. I stood as if peering through a curtain at the old town, periodically seeing lightening find its target in the city.
As quickly as the storm had started, the curtain was pulled back as the storm rolled past and rays of light first tentatively and then confidently returned. I was one of the first on the streets again and the town seemed cleansed and refreshed. I found a position at the top of a cobble stone street which gave me a good vantage point across the city. The black clouds of the storm an ominous presence just past the city, the old town now as if a painted canvas the colours so bright compared to the backdrop of the storm. My vantage point also gave me a good position from which to observe all the people who were now emerging from their various refuges.
Amongst all of the people it was a little girl that caught my eye. She was perched over the gutter watching with such joy, such happiness, the water flowing past and down into a drain. She was simply glowing with delight and so excited about her discovery. Her joy was so evident that her little brother looked back from his pram with envy. When his mum lifted him out of the pram, he ran to his sister and shared in the delight. They stood across from each other laughing and completely captured by the scene and then content, they continued to look for the next joyful discovery.
Witnessing this really reminded me of the simple pleasures I have so often overlooked, not anymore I promised myself.
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