Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the big moments. The momentous occasions like weddings, births, celebrations. Special trips. The excitement of getting the job you wanted, buying your first or dream home, meeting a famous person, and so forth.
But simple joys can be momentous in their own way.
That happened to me this past weekend. We were taking care of our five-year-old and three-year-old granddaughters while our son and daughter-in-law went on a short weekend trip, and one of the activities was going to their local library for the oldest to check out some books. She’s in kindergarten and loves to sound out words when she can. Both girls have always loved to have books read to them, but I was never able to do so since they were born after I became legally blind and could no longer read even large-print books.
What I could and can do is read Kindle books on my iPad with the font set as large as it will go, but that doesn’t work for children’s books.
There is a series about a pigeon that she loves, and I love them now as well. Why? The font is large and dark. Other than a small paragraph at the beginning of the book, there is only one line per page.
So, I put on my plus 6 reading glasses, held the book about six or eight inches from my face, and as she leaned in to look at the illustrations, I read the pigeon books to her.
I repeat: for the first time since my oldest granddaughter was born, I was able to read to her. At times I stumbled, but she was patient.
“This is an important day,” I told her. “I’m reading to you for the very first time. We’re making history!”
She didn’t realize the importance of this event to me, but believe me, it was big. October 16, 2026 is worthy of noting, at least in my book.
Barry still had to read the regular books to her, but the joy that moment brought me–a total book nerd who has loved to read ever since I learned how–is something I will long remember.
I think as we get older, we learn to appreciate the simple joys, and I know what brings joy to one person doesn’t bring joy to another. Whatever they are, they’re worth noticing. And they’re worth appreciating.
