There were so many marvelous and unexpected outcomes from my Wilkes Barre adventure last week that I wanted to share a few with you. Because, like George Carlin said: “Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”

I was so filled up before, during and after my field trip to PA, that I’m still vibrating with the joy of the excursion. Therese, the felted wool provider, gifted me with two of her adorable catnip toys made from her materials. Since I don’t have pets, I immediately shipped them off to my daughter and son-in-law who do. “Notice what happens when you bring the envelope inside,” I warned as I was instructed that kitties will sniff the scent even before the package is opened. The next hour was filled with videos, comments about Ichiro’s and Mario’s behavior (Mario became a total hoarder) and laughter as we shared these moments. (I clearly have to learn how to make this video insertion smaller, but that’ll be another education session and blog post.)

To thank my friend Prudy who housed me the night before the excursion, then drove me to Beacon for the drop-off at Melanie’s, I sent a copy of Melanie’s fine volume: Making a Life. Prudy and I were nursery school moms back in the late 70’s when our first-borns were 3. We’ve been friends ever since, even through her relocation to the Berkshires and lifestyle choice to live on a farm with horses, sheep, chickens, rabbits and more. It was our mutuality of love and respect for each other’s lifestyle decisions that has kept the relationship intact for all these decades. In her note to me, in appreciation of my gift selection, she wrote, “How I loved the time-out-of-time feeling I got going out to the barn on a frigid winter evening with the multitude of stars overhead and the sweet girls [Navajo Churro ewes] munching their hay.” The book I selected honored her, too, without telling her story.

The bags of felted wool I got from Therese are sitting on the rug in my living room. I have two new women in my life who reflect back to me, in the most positive ways, recognition and gratitude. These gifts are all priceless. No amount of money, no things, no banquet could replace the feeling of fulness of deep satisfaction.

What fills YOU up?