My Happy Place

My Happy Place

By Charlie Melton

Many years ago my girl-child gave me a painting of a cabin. It’s in the high plains on a serene river. The sun is setting over the mountains far off on the horizon. A small canoe is tied to the rough hewn dock. Smoke curls lazily from the stone chimney. The fire casts a soft glow through the windows. It’s a beautiful pastoral scene. It makes me happy and calm when I look at it. It’s my happy place.

I’d be content there. The cabin is away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. It’s so pretty; I would post it on Facebook. I would, but there’s no cell tower. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to add that. It’ll still be serene. It’s my happy place.

I’d be content there, but I’d have to charge my phone and laptop. I have to communicate that it’s serene. I also have to eat, so the power poles will pay off by keeping a refrigerator going. It won’t hurt to have power lines and poles. It can still be my happy place.

I’d be content there, but I noticed there are no roads. I have to buy food, and it looks a long way to town. Just one road won’t hurt. We had better pave it so I can get to town. I’ll also need a car. That won’t hurt the painting. It’ll still be serene. It’s my happy place.

I’d be content there just like it is. I’d only have to add a cell tower, electricity, a car, and a road. That’s the only changes to make it nicer. That’s all I need, except for maybe cable, or satellite. It can get boring out there on long winter nights. I might want to watch TV sometimes. A satellite dish won’t hurt. It’ll still be serene. It’s my happy place.

I’d be content there. I could take the little canoe from the rough hewn dock and paddle down the river. I’d go slowly and enjoy the day. Life would be so good. It’ll just be me and the canoe and the river. It does get a little hard paddling upstream, so a small motor won’t hurt. It won’t be really loud. Maybe it should be a bigger motor so I can get back sooner. I’ll have to get a bigger boat for the motor, but that won’t hurt. It’ll still be serene. It’s my happy place.

I can’t wait to really go there. It’s so serene. I love my happy place.