The Magic of Being Happy

Annie Collins was tired; emotionally drained and literally tired to the core. She could not wait to be home in comfortable dry clothing and snuggled in a warm blanket with a hot cup of soup. All that stood between her and her own personal nirvana were the bus rides home.

As was typical, the bus was crowded with folks all trying to get to their homes, much like Annie. The last open seat was next to an elderly woman she had never seen on the bus before. With a deeply rooted sigh that popped out before she could stop it, Annie sat down.

“Oh my darling, that came straight out of your soul!” The older lady exclaimed.

Annie smiled. “I think it did. I am so sorry.”

“For what dear? It’s 5:30PM on a cold wet rainy Friday. I am sure you are exhausted.”

“Honestly, I am. This week has been a long one, for sure!”

The older lady turned to face Annie “My name is Lillie.”

Annie smiled “Nice to meet you, my name is Annie.”

“Such a nice name. Do you have far to go to reach home?”

Annie nodded “I have to transfer to the 8th Street bus after this and then a three block walk.”

“Oh my.”

Annie nodded again. “No rest for the wicked, they say!”

“Oh now dear, I scarcely believe you are wicked.”

Annie smiled. “I’m not really” She agreed.

“Just a hard worker. There is nothing wrong with that. I was at your age.”

“I sort of figured by now, I’d have more…”

“More, dear?”

“Yeah… a husband, a house, a car… maybe a child. I have a cat.” Annie mused.

“You are what, not even thirty?”

“Thirty-three next week.”

“Well Happy early Birthday!”

Annie just smirked. “Thank you.”

“You don’t sound grateful.”

“Well again, given my age.”

“Oh phooey. Where is it written that you have to achieve certain things by a certain age?”

“I guess society, my family…”

“Annie, tell me what it is you do for a living.”

“I work as an assistant at a long term care facility. I am going to school to be a nurse.”

“Do you find it rewarding?”

“Oh yes. I love my job.”

“So why stress about the things you don’t have?”

Annie thought for a moment. “I… well everyone else my age seems to have it together. And then there is me.”

Lillie patted her hand. “Are you happy?”

“Actually yes. But you know how it is; ever since girls are small we are read stories, taught to believe in the magic of Happily Ever After. I guess I just want mine.”

“Annie, do you know the difference between illusion and magic?”

“I’ve never really thought about it.”

Lillie pursed her lips. Annie studied her face it was kind and weathered. She was the grandmother everyone pictured in her head. Her eyes seasoned with age were a dull gray; Annie imagined once upon a time they were bright blue. “Annie, I worked for years as a teacher. I loved my job. I love children. I was married for a very long time. Clyde and I could not have children of our own. Everyone looked at us with pity. They felt we were incomplete without children, that somehow someway our lives were not full. We heard it all, ‘oh I didn’t know love until I had children of my own’ ‘don’t you want someone to carry on after you are gone?’” Lillie sighed and continued “But the fact is Clyde and I knew real love. We have our memories to carry on; we have donated to causes all around town. I didn’t need children of my own for that. I had the magic of a wonderful man in my life.”

“But that’s…” Annie began.

“Hold on child.” Lillie interrupted her “Clyde was one of a kind. I was almost forty when I married him. It took a long time to find him. I suffered a lot of heartbreak. I thought I knew love before Clyde, it was all illusion. But Clyde… oh Annie he was handsome and adventurous and made me the center of his entire world. He could have had anyone, somehow he chose me.”

“How did you meet him?”

“He was a magician. My friends took me to see his show. I was mesmerized. He performed tricks I had never seen before and he was a showman, kept me spellbound the entire time. Turns out he noticed me from stage and after the show was over, came up to me and asked me my name.”

“Wait, wait, Clyde Burrows?”

Lillie smiled “You’ve heard of him?”

“Who hasn’t!? My parents used to bring my brother and me downtown to watch his Christmas show every year.” Annie exclaimed

“The one and only.” Lillie answered.

“How long were you married?”

“Until Clyde passed away two years ago; Forty-two years of happiness.”

“Why are you on this bus?” Annie asked skeptically.

Lillie chuckled. “Annie, I am still Lillie Gordon. I grew up around here. I don’t put on airs for anyone. See, magic is using devices over natural forces. The forces in your life are telling you that you should be this or that that somehow you should be checking off items on some imaginary list by a certain age. Old maids don’t exist anymore. If you are happy, you have magic, you can use that happiness to wave off the forces telling you that you can’t possibly BE happy.”

Annie nodded. That certainly made sense. She was in fact, very happy with her life. She had a great job, she was getting through her schooling with ease, even if she did have pause her education now and then to save for tuition. She loved her family and friends and she was blessed with great apartment and an awesome cat. Sure she felt tired now and then, but if happiness is magic, she had it in droves. “That makes sense, Lillie. I truly am happy.”

“Illusion is deception of the senses. Do you know anyone who, by societal terms, has it all but isn’t truly happy?” Lillie asked her.

Annie instantly thought of several people “Yes, yes I do.”

“There you go my dear. I know all the tricks of the trade when it comes to magic acts. I understand how all the illusions work. Trust me when I tell you that you cannot deceive true honest happiness. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you aren’t happy because you don’t live as they do. Please promise me that.”

“I will Lillie.” Annie smiled.

“Good. Now dear if you will excuse me, I have to get off here. I am meeting with the Boys and Girls Club today to talk to them about my husband. It seems a few of the children have an interest in him.”

Annie stood. She hugged Lillie and whispered in her ear “Thank you.”

Lillie replied “You are most welcome dear” and made her way to the front of the bus.

Annie sat back down shivering no more; warm in the knowledge that her life was indeed magic.