“I think I just met the happiest person in the world!” I proclaimed to Olivia as I danced spinning circles around her. She laughed, “Is that right? I do try to keep my wits about me. Yeah, you might be right! Happiness is a state of mind.”

A big toothy smile sprawled across her face so real you’d never know how hard she has had it. Olivia once lived in a large cement bank vault she and her late husband had converted into a house. Without complaint she earned the crow’s feet by her eyes, living each day in full awareness of the effect of a positive attitude.

Now in her late 70’s, living alone in a tiny town on the Swift River, she spent her days reminiscing with friends like me. Humming a 1950’s tune, she scrubbed the dishes and talked about how funny her dearly departed Edward had always been.

“He made me laugh every day; sometimes so hard that’d I’d lose my ladylike demeanor,” she snorted with joy. Her laugh and uncontrollable noises me laugh in return.

No circumstance or person could bring her down, for no matter where Olivia went, a smile and song followed.

She peeked over her shoulder at me and whispered, “Joy is contagious you know.” With a wink she went back to humming and scrubbing.