Last weekend, we returned from an out-of-town trip to behold a glorious sight: a teepee in our neighbor’s backyard. Not an authentic teepee – more a teepee built for backyard camping. Made of nylon and built to withstand the impossible winds here in South Dakota, we delighted in seeing the neighbor’s little girls run in and out of the doorway. I imagine they have little “beds” set up, and stuffed animals lined up along the wall. Perhaps some favorite toys. I imagine they feel safe and cozy inside. What a JOY to see.
A few months ago, we took our grandson on an overnight stay at an Airbnb. Not just any Airbnb… it was on a farm. This property was offered at an auction at a benefit gala I attended a few months prior. I was surprised to win it, but delighted. I knew Jameson would love being on a farm – the horses, the chickens, the, well, the farm. He did not disappoint. He loved it all. Walking amongst the chickens, feeding the horses, petting the dog and the cat. But what did he love best? A little closet in the house. With a sloped roof and plenty of room to sit in, it provided the perfect spot for Jameson and Nana, and Puppy, Bunny, Foxy, Snort, and Hop Hop Bun Bun to set up a little home. Occasionally, I would ask, “Would you like to go back out and feed the horses?” Why bother even asking when he could sit in a cozy little spot?
Growing up, Jameson’s mom, our daughter, Christine (Allison), had a tiny bedroom (her little brother and all his Legos got the big bedroom). Again, a sloped ceiling, and just enough room for a twin bed, a dresser, and a little desk. And she couldn’t have been happier. Cozy.
Cozy is the word Jameson uses when in a small space – “It’s so cozy!” – the same word his mother used when describing her bedroom. A word that conjures a small, safe place free of distractions from the outside world. A place that feels like it is giving you a big hug.
For myself, and I imagine for so many of you, the thought of a McMansion on the hill is not really appealing. It may sound great, but most of us would still carve out a little nook where we can escape the sounds, the junk, and the everyday distractions that keep us anxious.
Seeing the teepee and all the coziness it conjures gave me great JOY this week.