Sins of Joy!

As I walked back from lunch yesterday, I was caught by this very subtle aroma from a cherry blossom tree on campus. I promptly plucked the end of a tiny branch and held the group of three white flowers up to my nose- that whiff right there was bliss! I had a spring in my stride the rest of the way back to my desk, thanks to Oregon's beautiful Spring and its produce. Only after I reached my desk did I realize that those flowers were starting to wilt. They were happy on the tree and I selfishly plucked them and made them sad. I decided never to subject beautiful flowers through such violence again. I didn't have the heart to toss them so I kept them in my coat pocket. The coat, with the pocket and its contents, accompanied me to Raaga's school for pickup later that day. 

Raaga and three of her friends were running around, chasing each other, taking turns on the slide and the monkey bars, and having such a grand time that I hesitated to barge in and interrupt all that. Eventually one of the girls recognized me, and, in no time, all four of them came fluttering over to me. "I love your earrings", one girl said. "I love your coat", second girl said. "Can I go to Raaga's birthday party?", third girl inquired. "Can I please invite them all to my birthday party?", Raaga pleaded. I apparently pleased the girls with my choice of responses to this round of compliments and questions showered on me. One of the girls gave Raaga her rubber band bracelet as a token of appreciation for birthday party inclusion- a party that is more than three months out. Another girl picked up a tiny little yellow flower from the grass and offered it to me. Something in my brain flashed at the sight of that yellow flower and I felt like the fairy pulling pretty things out of air as I pulled the cherry blossoms out of my coat. The girls went ecstatic! That there was one less flower than the number of girls was no problem- they decided right away to distribute the petals instead of worrying about flower fractions. They instantly made up a game involving those petals. Those wilting white cherry blossoms made a bunch of four year olds immensely happy. I just kept staring at the girls in joy.

Today, at work, I tricked a coworker into believing that something terrible has happened in the factory because of him. I basically lied to him. And then, when he came close to canceling his birthday dinner plans and headed back to the factory to put out the nonexistent fires, I finally burst out laughing and wished him a happy birthday. The combination of shock and laughter on his face upon the reveal of the sweet treats and birthday wishes from the whole team was totally worth my lie! I probably would need to work on my poker face but would have no problems committing similar sins in future considering the spectacular payoffs!

And if I see them again, I would pluck those white cherry blossoms in a heart beat. With a wide smile.