Early Morning Pondering...

Photo by Sam McNamara on Unsplash

Do you have a friend who makes you laugh? Treasure them.

I like being happy as much as the next guy. But what makes me the most secure is knowing I can choose something stronger. Something that carries me when the world says I should be sad. The solidness of joy is so much better than the fluidity of happiness.

Joy and happiness are different. They are not the same thing. We cannot be happy without being joyful, but we can be joyful without being happy. Think of it this way...

1) Happiness is external; joy is internal.
2) Happiness depends on outward circumstances; joy depends on inward character.
3) Happiness depends on what happens to us; joy depends on who lives inside us.
4) Happiness is based on chance; joy is based on choice and it can't be taken away from you.

Did you know that the word "happiness" comes from an old English word "happ" which literally means "chance?" The Latin word is "fortuna," meaning "luck." So, if things happen the way we want, then we are happy. But if they don't, well then, we are unhappy. Right?

Happiness is temporary, at best. Even fickle. Joy is permanent and settled. (Side Note: It's also why one seems so peaceful in the middle of stormy parts of life. That joy is what gives inner strength.)

I knew a woman that could "see" joy everywhere she went. I think it was just a part of her inward workings. It's where her strength came from. We were close friends. One afternoon, we (DW and I) and our friends were driving home from Joplin, MO. As her husband drove, she peered out the side window and noticed a group of trees whose branches formed the word "JOY". She brought everyones attention to them. "Look at those trees! They say JOY!" she exclaimed quietly. She was the only one I knew who could "exclaim quietly." Her demeanor spoke without the need for loudness. This is a true happening. She saw them at a distance and actually got a picture of them. Three trees snuggled together with branches reaching high towards the heavens. Wish I had that picture for proof. It was as perfect as one could imagine. Crazy, and we were unprepared for it. But it spoke volumes to her.

This friend, now gone from this earth, was my laughing partner. Wherever we found ourselves to be, you could bet it wouldn't be long before we were either snickering, or down-right laughing so hard we couldn't breathe. Then the throat clearing began. And more laughter. Coughing. More laughter. And on it would go for way too long.

On one occasion, we went with a group of ladies for a Women's Retreat in Branson, MO. at the Lake of the Ozarks. We found it quite interesting that we were voted on to share a room. As far away from the others as possible. That decision only served to give us fodder for more reasons to cackle. We left our mark on humanity, some would say.

I could use a get-away with her now. Missing my Jani, here you will find me...in Mary's World.

2 Corinthians 4:7

Until We Meet Again, El-Yor

"The thought came up to bury him in his beloved Santa suit. Which sounded like a great idea until we thought about the reaction from the kids at the visitation." ~Larry Reece (family friend)

For the record, I would have agreed with this...had it not been for the kids reaction. 🤣🤣🤣 Probably not many (if any) little kids go to visit the deceased, but still, that would be one for the history books. 😂

And may I just say this picture has GOT TO BE the best Santa pic every taken?!!! LeRoy had a way with the kids...🤣🤣🤣❤️❤️❤️

Ah...LeRoy and his sense of humor. He loved calling me "Murry", and to this day, I have no idea why. I took it as an endearment and not an inside joke, which was much more likely. If anyone reading this knows why, I'm open to listening.

Where does one begin when trying to gift the world with just a taste of what it meant to be LeRoy Anderson's friend, and not end up writing a book? I'm pretty sure memories will be following me all day, today, since he and his family are on my mind. But for this post, I'll share only a drop of water from the fountain of his life.

If laughter truly is the best medicine, when in LeRoy's presence, one could expect to experience a particular euphoric dopamine that brought so much joy. And laughter. So much laughter. When I read the FB entry from Larry Reece just recently, I doubled over in laughter as my thoughts went to our friend and his antics. He MUST have whispered that in Larry's ear. I couldn't find a stopping point, as I heard LeRoy saying, "See, Murry. I'll always be a part of your life." Just like in the days of traveling this life with him, LeRoy's spirit lives on. I suspect it will continue to invade the lives of all those he and Jani touched in their short time of visiting this planet.

Although he was known for his mischievous ways, he did have his serious moments. But even those could turn into hysterical laughter, when least expected. He and his wife, Jani, gave us enough laughter to last a lifetime. How I would love to sit with them again. Or take a road trip with them again, or share a meal with them, again, or canvas the neighborhood for garage sales, again. On a side note: Jani banned me from driving when looking for those yard sales. Something about me driving too fast. She didn't have time to use her laser eye-sight to see every possible treasure there might be in any given yard. It all looked like junk piles to me. But, Jani, she could spot expensive clothing from what seemed a mile away, and loved telling me what I had missed out on when I gave up the garage sale adventures. "Ooooo, JANI! I LOVE your dress!" "$.25 at yesterday's garage sale." And she always knew the best neighborhoods to find the most value. See what I mean?! Her family looked as if they'd stepped out of a magazine. She was quite the lady! But this post is about LeRoy. Or is it? I can't talk about one, without the other creeping in. They were, together, the best role models our community could ever have hoped for. As a bonus, they always had a heart for God and doing "the right thing". Those "bear hugs" of his weren't bad, either.

LeRoy (El-Yor, to me. Don't ask...), had this enchanting twinkle, in his eyes that just never seemed to go away. Something that was passed down to those crazy boys of his. You knew he was, or they were, up to something. Always up to something. You couldn't ask for better men, but you should always be prepared for the unexpected. The only time I remember not seeing mischievousness dance in LeRoy's eyes, was either when he was sharing the Word of God, or his soul had been pierced. If there had been injustice, you knew to tread softly in his presence. You've heard the saying that still waters run deep, right? This guy was one, that when quiet, you knew those waters were about to erupt. Respectfully, of course. Just don't look too long into those soulful eyes of his when trouble was rumbling. Somewhere along the way, he mellowed out. I think it was right around the time he lost his Jani when her time on this earth was done. Jani had always kept him in line, and when she was gone, a part of him left as well. Oh, he was still the wonderful man he was created to be, he just seemed a little deflated. And, that was understandable.

One last tiny glimpse...LeRoy had a Handy Man business after "retiring", that he was equally passionate about. Always fair. Always precise. His work had high standards that were always met with gifted hands and a determined spirit that seemed blessed by the giver of gifts. When I purchased the lot and building on North Main Street, in Miami, OK., I hired only the best to gut the entire building and set me up for success with a newly designed atmosphere that begged for quality services. It was so much fun, so much excitement, as I (and so many others) watched the transformation come to life from the design drawn on a sheet of paper that LeRoy followed to the max. There was only one recommendation he gave me about enlarging the Skin Care Room, that would make it even more beautiful than my own plan provided. I don't remember ever having to ask him to re-do anything. And that's something...

Here's to you, friend. See you in a bit...

As always, here you will find me...in Mary's World