For the Joy of Sprinklers

Last week our sweet little neighbor boy turned four years old. His parents came up with the most appropriate celebration for him that I think I may have ever witnessed. Some kids have an infatuation with super heroes or princesses, baseball or butterflies. But for a few, it goes beyond mere enjoyment to reaching levels of obsession.

For Zane, that obsession is sprinklers.

He knows what time each house on the block has their sprinklers programed to turn on. He knows what kind of sprinkler heads they have and what sound they make. He knows what aisle the sprinkler systems are sold at Home Depot and he begs his mom to buy him sprinkler heads when they go. And most of all, he knows how much fun he has playing in the spraying water.

So for his birthday celebration, his mom asked our whole block to turn on the sprinklers in our front yards at precisely 6:30 pm. It was THE perfect way to help them celebrate! We were all out to witness his reaction. (And of course for the cupcakes promised afterward.)

Joy doesn't cover it. Bliss would not be a sufficient word. Glory might come close. Zane was beside himself as he ran from yard to yard.

Judging from the grin that never left his face, he was the happiest four-year-old. Ever.

What brings you that kind of joy? What makes you smile and laugh, no matter how often you see or feel or experience it? Don't you wish we could all live life as if we are looking forward to a sprinkler party? Or better yet, as if the whole block had sprinklers on, and knowing those sprinklers were turned on just for us...