Keep Your Sunny Side Up
I went into that store feeling on top of the world. I was happy and I surely had no plan to suddenly go crazy in front of a store full of people.
The energy in the store was "off." You know when everyone walks out of an horrific movie in a state of shock and you can feel the distress of the crowd? As a whole, these shoppers were not sending out positive energy! A long winter can really pull down people's spirits, so I think the weather was playing a part in the lack of cheerfulness I was seeing.
People become depressed when they don't see the sun. They get irritable and sad; so it was not a surprise to see customers looking cross and unhappy. One man looked as though the weight of the world was on his shoulders.
I selected the avocados I was after and stood in line to pay. The line up was relatively short and I was soon placing my change into my wallet and turning to go. That was when I noticed the line had really grown. All these people looked unhappy and one fellow looked as though he had lost his best friend.
For some unfathomable reason the words and melody to a song popped into my head, "Keep your sunny side up." It made me feel good just hearing it in my own head and it was at that moment I spotted the little boy, being held in his mommy's arms. Oh goodness, even he did not look happy!
Without thinking about it, I softly sang the words to the tiny fellow. "Keep your sunny side up, up, keep your sunny side up." A slow grin lit up his face! He just stared at me, waiting with this "more" look upon his face! He definitely liked someone paying attention to him and apparently liked songs.
Playfully, I sang to him again and this time added rhythmical arms, emphasizing the word "up" by reaching high to the right and then the left.
I heard the whisper of a giggle from that sweet little dickens and he hugged his mommy then rested his head on her shoulder but looked to me for more. He was hooked!
At this point I had allowed my voice to sing out a tiny bit louder and his mommy and daddy began smiling. Whether it was solely because their son was now so happy or whether it was because a goofy lady was singing in public with matching hand/arm actions, I couldn't say!
The little tyke was truly egging me on and I do admit, I too was having fun! So now I braved being hauled away in a straight jacket, threw caution to the wind and let my voice truly sing it out with, "laugh, get out of bed, you sleepy head, and keep your sunny side up." I added some new moves to the little routine!
The youngster was laughing and began waving at me and at that moment I glanced up the line of people to the saddest man and he was grinning at me. In fact there were people straining around those in front to see where the sound and commotion was coming from. People act that way at accident sites too. Oh my goodness, in this case I was "the accident."
It felt like my cue to leave. I waved goodbye to the little boy. He had great body language and I knew he was truly enjoying himself. I smiled and gently reached toward him, "Thanks little fellow!"
My antics seemed to chase away some of those winter blues. Even the people at the adjacent checkout were grinning. Was it the words to a catchy little tune or just the sight of a mature woman acting weirdly in a crowded store? It really didn't matter, I could feel a wave of positive vibes. And that was what counted!
That little fellow in mommy's arms was the catalyst and can take the credit for changing the moods of all those people. He was the one who egged me on. He pushed my zany buttons. His warm smile encouraged me to just let go.
Everyone knows that cabin fever in Canada produces weird side effects for some of us!
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