She watched the sky light up and flash. She watched the sparkling drops that burst into brilliant sprinkles and disappeared into the velvety sky. It was magical: that deep, echoing noise, that glowing tension, that unexpected, magnificent, beautiful release, like the unexpected joy that swept you away, like life itself.
– Laurie Colwin, A Big Storm Knocked It Over
She really was just the best. And her work holds up beautifully, every magnificent sentence. So glad you’re reading her and sharing here; it’s like suddenly meeting an old friend on the street. The day brightens, the heart lifts.
A few months ago I was driving up our mountain in Colorado where I live. In town to get groceries, I spied a truly radiant rainbow sitting just over the mountain I was driving toward. “What a treat” I thought to drive right at such a brilliant sight.
Rainbows are typically fleeting. 5 minutes of joy is a long time when it comes to spying them.
This one kept playing hide and seek with me all the way up the canyon. It was around each bend of rock, laid against the next echo of blue sky.
I couldn’t believe my luck. It was the joy you describe here. A journey of joy. For a full 40 minutes. Wow.