Monday Missives

National Hammock Day and other things that make me happy!

Huff’s Grocery

Hammocks, Huff’s and Hummingbirds. What makes your heart happy?

Did you know today, July 22nd, is National Hammock Day? My ‘happy place’ is a hammock tied between to palm trees, when I look to my left, I see cows grazing in a large pasture and beyond the cows is the Pacific Ocean for as far as can be seen. I love that hammock; it’s on Maui. I haven’t seen it in a long time, too long.

That’s okay. Lots of of other things make me happy too. Fortunately most are closer to home. For instance, today I visited Huff’s Grocery. My grandparents’ owned and ran a little country market like Huff’s when Franklin was a small town. For my local friends, it’s now Tim’s Market on Columbia Avenue. When I was 4 and 5 years old, I would “help” Grandmother in the deli. Men lined up in the back of that store for my grandmother’s bologna and souse sandwiches with yellow mustard on white bread. She sliced the meat and cheese, made each sandwich to order, wrapped them in butcher paper and they paid Grandaddy on the way out. Sitting on the front porch at Huff’s today and eating a ham sandwich made me feel good all over. It reminds me about what’s best about life: a summer’s day (especially this one with low humidity), a sweet breeze, friendly banter with a stranger and a ham sandwich.

Still closer to home, I smile when I see a hummingbird circling the the feeder just outside my screen porch. She (I’ve decided she’s a she) seems to magically appear, with wings moving so fast they are invisible, yet she hangs in mid-air without moving. How does she do that?

What makes your heart happy?