Spring is always a time of joy and affirmation for me, especially when I live in nature with beautiful skies and dignified hills. This winter was the first one I lived and feared; there was so much suffering, so many people without enough food or heating oil, or cars without tires that grip.

It also had the wonder of nature unleashed; it was bitterly cold two months ago and remained so until a few days ago. I went out just about every morning for my Pastoral pictures, but ended up chilled to the bone; it never got warm, not one day.

Today, Spring finally showed up, and Maria and I sat outside, and my partner, Zip, picked up right where we left off in November- sitting outside in the afternoon with Zip parked on my shoulder purring and dozing. He only got off when he saw something move in the grass, and then came right back. Zip is never really asleep, as far as I can see.

He jumped into his favorite spot, my shoulder, and sat with me for an hour in the sun.

It was sweet, beautiful, healing, and joyful. Zip on my shoulder, Maria held my head for a while, birds chirping all around us. Maria and Zip. So much love. So much joy.

Why, I wonder, do so many people choose anger, hatred, and grievance over joy, peace, beauty, and kindness? If there really is a God, why would he permit this? I doubt I will ever really get an answer to that question.

I sometimes think that people give back what they were given. I had trouble in my early life, but I don’t think anyone hated me. Their mistakes came out of love. Love can hurt, too. Could it be as simple as that? Love breeds love, anger anger, hatred hate. It’s the best answer I can think of.

But I did give thanks to the God, spirits, or ghosts who offer me joy and keep giving me the chance to do good and to feel love for things beyond me. Today was some sadness, but the greatest joy. Spring is doing this for me, especially after such a grim winter.

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I got more joy beyond Zip today. Emma sent me a picture of Robin, my granddaughter, running through the streets of New York City with her dog, Sandy, joy all over them. Lucky me to feel joy. Pain is inevitable; suffering is a choice. I choose joy. Robin is so very much loved. She gives it back to the world.