A Clip From My Beautiful Life

When joy comes for you

Photo of sister and brother by the author.

Just back from school, my princess walked straight into my room.

On her trek back home, she had picked some pebbles for me, but I was still half asleep. Carefully, she dropped them by the laptop and left. Noiselessly.

One time some months ago, her brother walked into my room and saw the eclectic collection of stones by the window pane.

"Grandpa, what are you using these stones for?"

“Nothing.”

Unsatisfied with my “nothing” response, he continued his query.

"Then why do you have lots of them here?"

"I just like them. See their many beautiful shapes, sizes, textures, and colors?"

Since then, brother and sister never forgot to bring me their “stumbled upon” pick of pebbles. I kept a few while getting rid of the others.

A good friend once read my story about my new-interest and replied, wondering if I’d gone nuts upstairs. But my grandkids never questioned my odd hobby.

Yesterday, her brother deposited another sizeable chunk into my growing collection.

"See Grandpa, see how it shines in the light." True, the stocky piece of rough igneous rock was sparkling with tiny iridescent…