Another great walk this morning in Bellingham – I always find the smiles I need there, and the joy.

My first smile came when I was waiting to cross the street from Fairhaven Green to the path to Boulevard Park. A man in a delivery truck was trying to back up across 10th Street and onto Mill Ave. I stood back so he didn’t need to worry about me crossing the street, and could do what he needed to do. I could tell he was working really hard to navigate his truck backwards through the crosswalk, and when he got to the other side of the crosswalk and was finally able to stop and go forward, I saw him let out one of those “Whew!” sighs. I could relate to his human-ness in that moment and started grinning in human camaraderie. He happened to look over at me and saw me smiling. He smiled a big smile back and waved. That wave totally made my day.

I started down the path and saw a squirrel busily gathering his morning meal – nuts probably. He stayed still long enough for me to get some quick pictures, and then scampered off with his loot.

As I neared the ramp to Taylor Dock, I spotted a bunny hopping this way and then that way and then back the first way and, finally, stopping in the middle of the street. There was a youngish man on the other side of the bunny, watching its antics, a grin on his face. When the bunny finally hopped off into the bushes, the man and I made eye contact and smiled at each other. “Talk about a funny bunny,” he said, laughing. And then we both continued on our separate journeys. But I love those quick moments when we share an experience like that with someone else, and connect briefly.

Down at Boulevard Park I saw a crow showing off his morning snack – a crab leg maybe? – and soon three or four other crows showed up to try to snatch it from him. Crows crack me up.

I really needed my morning walk today. I needed the smiles.

(You can find more stories like this in my book, Cosmic Connections: Sharing the Joy.)