One of my favorite movies is Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. It reminds me a lot of me and Richard. Sam Sparks and Flint Lockwood, that is. Plus, I think the writers of the story were brilliant. Something that stood out to me while watching it again (funny how you pick up on new things when you watch a favorite movie again and again) recently was the “HUUUHHH!!!” expression made by so many of the characters in different parts of the movie. It happens early on in the movie when the flintmidstiffer machine starts dumping out food  after Flint thinks the whole thing has gone to the wayside. He’s sitting on the dock hanging out with Sam Sparks. She’s going on about her poor performance as a meteorologist. Cheeseburgers begin to rain down. Residents of Swallow Falls are seen looking up to the sky and exclaiming, “HUUUHHH!!!”, eyes and mouths agape in sheer wonder. Later it happens when things go south at the mayor’s ribbon cutting ceremony. Things go awry, as the flintmidstiffer begins to supercede its capacity. People look to the sky – “HUUHH!!” as things go south.

When was the last time something made you HUUUUHH?” To be clear, “huh” is defined as “an exclamation used to express scorn, anger, disbelief, surprise, or amusement.” Hopefully it wasn’t something falling from the sky. But seriously, when was the last time something made you excited or surprised? I’m going with the positive side of the expression here. Or heck, even if something made you angry or shocked in a negative way, go with that. Feeling emotion means we’re alive. Indifference is the opposite of love, they say. Hopefully a real life thing made you “huuuhh.” I think it’s important to experience it regularly. To be amazed, to be filled with awe, to be inspired.

Today for me, it was walking with my dog at Pleasure House Point, a nature reserve area in Virginia Beach. It was about 58 degrees out, sunny. The sky was light blue with thin white streaks in it. I just wanted to look at it. The same with the surrounding water, clear in some places, and the marsh, oyster beds, trees home to resting white egrets. A little slice of heaven on earth, if you ask me. I got another “huuhh” moment today when sitting in my front yard with my dog. I happened to look up and saw two bald eagles flying overhead. They even circled round a few times. I admired their white beaks and white tails. It was right there, without me even having to leave my own property. Again, heaven on earth.

In our crazy world, I think it’s important to find those little slivers of heaven on earth. They’re here. Look up. There are still things to huuuhhh about. Even if it’s the down side of the huuuhh, like injustice or bullying or greed. Notice these things. Be on the side of “Huuuuhhh,” not on the side of indifference. Explore what makes your eyes glisten, your brain light up, and your jaw drop – pursue those things and cultivate more of them. I think they make us better people. If you find that you are huuuiiing because you despise something, figure out why you do. That can make you better too.

For now, I feel so very fortunate to have “huuuuhh”-ed today at a beautiful sky, my dog in nature, eagles, and now, an evening at home with the man I love who shares some striking idiosyncrasies with Flint Lockwood. What a great life. HUUUHHH!  ~