I’ve been reading a book by Trent Dalton called Love Stories.

Highly recommended.

I do wish I had of read it before we popped into Brisbane last week, it would have resounded given where we stayed.

More on Brissie later. 

Perhaps.

Love Stories of course bought me to the question of happiness.

What is happiness?

It’s a big question.

I’m very happy at the moment, in fact living the dream.

But like everything, happiness can be dislocated in the blink of an eye.

Like just now.

Riding along Wairakei Road, coming up to the intersection of Blighs, to be confronted by a Saab hurtling towards said corner. Not bothering to eyeball anything in my direction.

Fortunately I was eyeballing him. 

Maaaate….you’re not 20 anymore. In fact you are clearly in your 60’s. Stop concentrating on that chocolate bar and look both ways. 

Not five minutes later, dislocated happiness could have been that huge bumble bee (and NZ bumble bees are HUGE) hurtling my way only to slam into my right eyeball.

Or was I hurtling his way?

Me thinks perhaps the latter.

Lucky I had my cancer care sunglasses on.

See MoD, it does pay to wear your sunglasses in any weather.

Then further down the road, the older lady in her buzzbox Hyundai Excel, circa 1985, also hurtling.

Out of the church.

Not looking in my direction. 

Love. Pet. I say Love.

God Speed is not meant to be taken literally.

Yes happiness can be distracted, reduced.

Like when someone you loves get a diagnosis no one is expecting.

My friend Lelanie (who is fit and well by the way) said to me yesterday, at our weekly debrief, that she was going to try and live in the moment.

Big call Lelanie.

If anyone can do it, you can.

With 63 years of living in the rear view mirror, not sure I can.

But I can commit to loving each moment.

As best I can.

And that brings me back to Love.

And Trent Dalton.

The big question.

Love is complicated and hard and fun and amazing and diverse, very worth opening your heart and allowing vulnerability. 

Love is most certainly connected to happiness.

And it doesn’t matter what you love.

It could be your recliner chair or your neighbours Wisteria.

Could be your goldfish.

You just have to love something.

Something which brings you happiness.

And go from there.

And just to prove me right, when I finally arrived safe and sound back at the ranch, love was waiting.

No, not you MoD.

Well maybe you.

But also this. 

Trent Dalton, I call this total unbiased absolute, grounding love.

Everyone should have a Princess.