making room

ain't no shame in holdin' on to grief.

as long as you make room for other things too.

~bubbles (season 5, ep. 9, the wire)

do you know when the bus is coming?

the gentleman asks me as if he knows i just checked for it on my phone. he exudes an aura of warmth and joy: his round bearded face with a subtle smile, bright blue and gold kofia on his head, and a tan tweed blazer decorated with a colorful saxophone pin on the right lapel.

yes, it should be arriving in 5 minutes.

thank you. how are you doing today?

i'm doing ok.

are you happy?

again it seems he has read my mind or perhaps read the pensive look on my face. i let out a short nervous laugh and respond,

i'm trying to be...
are you happy?

yes, i am. i think it is a normal state to be unhappy.
but i try to have my normal state be happiness
because that is what was intended by the Creator.

that's a good way to think about it.

what makes you happy?

oh, i don't know. my family, my friends.

yes, of course...
are you an artist?

no, i'm not an artist.

are you a photographer?

i laugh again wondering how he can sense these things about me.

yes, i like to shoot photos.

oh that is wonderful. what are your subjects?