What was the happiest time of your life?

[Peregrine Took]

Mine was when I first went away to college.

It wasn't that the school was "up to much" - just a small Catholic junior college in Iowa on the Mississippi. I was very miserable and homesick for the first few weeks but then I made new friends and began to experience for the first time in my life...freedom, the feeling that I was grown up, 'could do what I wanted to do - without parent's "ok" and supervision. Wow!

I never thought I could be happy being away far away from home but I was and it was a great feeling.

I remember going up to the lodge at the local state park with "the gang", staying up late (hiding from the nuns)sneaking down to the "smoker" for a late night gossip session, ice skating on the pond down by one of the bluffs, carrying home the dorm wing Xmas tree singing Christmas carols down the street, hitching rides from the town boys back to school, sliding down the big hill in the snow on trays we swiped from the cafeteria and so much more.

The saddest thing to me is that everyone has gone their separate ways and we will never cross paths again. Some have died, some have moved far away to distant states - truth be told the school doesn't even exist anymore.

Even though I'm happy and healthy, I have close friends and a great marriage, I'll never forget my time back in 1962 being away from home for the first time. In the Fall of every year, especially as I get older, those memories come back so vividly...

[driver8]

1. The summer before my senior year at college.

I stayed at school to be near my girlfriend and got a job on campus. I had an apartment off campus, a full-time job, and was doing two or three shows a week on the campus radio station...life was great! The girlfriend broke up with me the third week of summer and I was crushed for about two weeks. After the pain wore off, I had a blast enjoying my new found freedom!!

[The Straight Story]

3. The carefree days my wife and I spent together before my mom died and wife got parkinson's

Life seemed so full of promise and hope and joy.

Been a rough few years for us both, our happiest times were in Circleville, our daughter was just learning to walk, life was carefree - and I even remarked to the wife one night as I laid on the floor playing with our daughter 'these are the best days of our lives' - and they were.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear Peregrine Took...

I have several...

When I was newly in love!

And when my daughters were born...

*sigh*

:)

[lost-in-nj]

4. Of course when I had my kids...

nothing compares.....
but when I got on an airplane ALONE for the first time.....
you have no idea...


lost

[Kutjara]

5. Tomorrow.

And if not tomorrow, then the day after. Or perhaps the day after that.

If I didn't believe the happiest time of my life was still to come, I wouldn't even make the effort to chew through my restraints in the morning.

[QMPMom]

6. When our kids were small.

Despite the fact of my daughter's health issues, I loved having my babies and raising them.

My daughter will be 21 on Thursday and my son will be 20 in December.

[skygazer]

7. The years between about ten and maybe 12

After we got our first horse and I learned to ride and before it became evident that my mom was dying. It seemed like a lot longer period of time than it actually was.

And right now. I've got some aches and pains and I'm not rich by a long shot but this is definitely one of the best periods of my life.

[Roon]

8. The first time I went to a gay bar in New Orleans

on bourbon street. I was 22 and still in the closet. This was my first contact with other gay people and I had a BLAST!!

[Lethe]

9. i don't know if this is good or bad

but the happiest times in my life have been when i smoked pot every day for extended periods of time.

I don't know whats wrong with me, or if i'm missing a chemical in my brain or something, but i find it extremely hard to be happy without the help of external substances

[raptor_rider]

10. Birth of my daughter

who is 10. Then my wedding 3 years ago. Then the birth of my two sons, who are 10 months apart. All the loves of my life.

[Joey Liberal]

11. Playing baseball as a kid and

all of the times that I held beautiful women in my arms.

[Danger Mouse]

12. Some of times I had in college, and more recently, my time with kaghime...

:)

[fizzgig]

14. awwww

:)

mine too, darling

[Wapsie B]

13. Mine was at college

I had just come back after sitting out a semester. I had a more relaxed attitude about being there. I found myself having fun, actually being happy for the first time in a long time. School was fun. Life was fun. Surrounded by artsy people has always been a haven for me.

[SPKrazy]

15. When I gloved up to my elbows and delivered my son

and cut the cord and wouldn't let him go for the longest time. I went to the nursery with him and let go so they ccould bathe him but that was it.

wonderful moment in time...

[WinkyDink]

16. College, hands down. FREEDOM.

[Jamastiene]

17. Haven't had one yet.

I guess I could count the one minute I spent talking to Joan Jett when I met her. That was about the only happy moment I can remember, to be honest, and it was a fleeting one at that. Sure didn't last long.

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

45. i envy you that minute

grats :)

[MissMillie]

18. I'm hoping I haven't had it yet

:shrug:

[Connonym]

19. best answer!

[Deep13]

20. right now

My 30s were better than my 20s and my 20s better than my teens.

[bikebloke]

21. My kibbutz years in Israel

I really felt content with life. Sure I was doing shit work, but there were people around from all over the world. And they were doing the same shit work. A hyper-social existence, compared to now with my solitary contentness.

And suddenly, women fancied me for being me. A nice boost.

[Critters2]

28. That would be a good experience

I've often wished my faith had some kind of monastic community tradition, because I think that's healthier than living alone. And the experience of being with people from all over, well, that does sound like a good time.

[bikebloke]

34. Open for most

Luckily, it was open to folk from most beliefs - jews, christians, atheists, pagans, whatever etc. Though I've heard that now due to unemployment they stopped the volunteer program. Unless they were referring specifically to my kibbutz.

[Drunken Irishman]

22. The summer of 2005.

It was just one, non-stop party. It was a fantastic summer, the best ever. This summer wasn't bad, as I met a new girl, but I can't help but think no summer will ever compare to that one a few years ago.

[soleft]

23. Now

Because it's now.

And I'm awake.

[Critters2]

24. College. Closely followed by seminary. nt

[YankeyMCC]

27. So far it was the day my son was born

It's cliche I know, and I've had some other happy times but the day and the following couple of weeks where without a doubt the happiest I've ever felt. I remember thinking to myself how strange it felt, like I'd never truly experienced happiness before. I of course expected to be happy and looked forward to having a child but the reality of the emotions really did catch me by surprise.

His mother had to have a c-section in the end so for the next couple of weeks I was the primary care giver, with the exception of feedings. I had never felt before and have never felt since, more happy and content than those couple of weeks. I've had moments, many involving him, but never as solid or sustained as that time.

For a happy time that involved only me - I think perhaps the days before, the day of and soon following, my graduation from OTS. But it pales in comparison.

On edit: I want to leave the OTS thing there it was certainly my proudest but I think perhaps I should list reaching the summit of Mt Washington (Agiocochook) for the first time a.s the happiest

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

25. I think that's a nearly universal sentiment...

At least for people who "went away" to college. How can you describe the exhilaration of seeing your old neighborhood fade into the rearview mirror? Or that moment, if your parents took you to school, right after they left and you were alone and on your own -- really and truly -- for the first time in your life? Terrified? Absolutely. But it was the best kind of terror. Your life was a blank slate and you, in that moment, were going to start filling it.

Gets my vote. At least as one of the best times...

[CTyankee]

26. Walking up to receive my Master's degree at age 63. I suddenly started to laugh

I was so happy. My husband, daughter, granddaughters,son and daughter in law were there. We had just gone to a fabulous brunch. My house was awash in flowers sent to me. It was a gorgeous May day. My 8 year old granddaughter put my cap on her head and we took a picture of her in it.

Family values...

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

33. Awesome...

Nice to know it took somebody longer to complete their thesis than it did for me!! :)

[CTyankee]

36. Yes, only 4 1/2 years. Since I was working full time then I could only

take one course a semester. My master's is in Liberal Studies, a very nice amalgam of the arts and humanities. Wonderful courses from mysticism, to a writer's workshop, to 19th century European Romanticism, it was a great ride. And I think a nice example for the grandkids: learning never stops in life if you don't want it to be!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

43. I taught for several years at a small university...

One of my favorite students was a 63-year-old freshamn. He was a retired letter carrier who had saved money for his children's college education. One of his kids decided not to attend college, and since the college fund was just sitting there and he had the time on his hands, he enrolled. He brought great perspectives and life experiences to classroom discussions.

[CTyankee]

44. Jeff, are you a UWM alum?

My husband's family was from Wisconsin. He went to UW Milwaukee and his sister went to UW Madison. We still have a summer home (inherited from his parents) in Door County where we visit for most of August. Oh, those Door County cherry pies...

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

46. Nope. I'm a transplant.

I haven't been to Door County yet, despite my repeated vows to go there. Maybe this fall.

[CTyankee]

49. You will like it, or find something to like there. For one thing, there are no

chain stores, shops or restaurants on the Door Peninsula (Sturgeon Bay in southern Door does have a WalMart, which is a source of controversy). All of the services are provided by small, individual owners so you can get your capaccino or your fish fry or your casual clothes with a great deal of individuality. It's refreshing to have those choices!

Our home is in Egg Harbor, a nice community. Fish Creek is great for stores. Ephraim is the most picturesque. It's nice there in the fall. The summer crowds are gone.

[GalleryGod]

29. Lotsa Political campaigns, but I'd have to say with "My Boys"

in the1st Air Cavalry in South Vietnam. I miss them every damn day of my life. Tragically, they all didn't come home with me.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

30. The moment my last staff meeting ended.

But I digress.

[RushIsRot]

31. Building model airplanes in my treehouse. Ah, childhood!

[mvd]

32. Not sure I can pick

There were memorable Christmases, college graduation, the time I got my dog Reba, President Clinton's victory, etc.

[Rising Phoenix]

35. my sophmore year at UMASS Amherst

good friends are the best, they even may save your life....

[CTyankee]

37. My neice went there at the same time my daughter was at Mt. Holyoke.

They would probably agree with you about how great the 5 college consortium was and how lovely the area is. I used to love my visits to campus in South Hadley. Idyllic, really...

[Rising Phoenix]

39. I'm planning on moving to Northampton, MA

if things go good

[CTyankee]

40. Nice place. Another neice lives there!

But as I get older, I look to places nearer my kids and grandkids. Right now, it looks like the Boston area. I have a daughter and 3 granddaughters in Sherborn, just west of Boston. My other grandchild, a boy, lives in Los Angeles, so I visit them and they visit here on the East Coast, but it's only twice a year, unfortunately.

I'll probably end up in a condo near Boston. I'd like to go there now...

[cobalt1999]

38. Right now.

I'm one of those annoying people who's life has been trending up his entire life. School years were great, my twenties were fantastic, thirties involved getting married and my daughters were born, my forties have my daughters still young, wonderful wife, and living a dream.

It's hard to imagine life getting better and I tell my wife these are the days we'll look back on when we're old.

[CTyankee]

41. "Though much is taken, much abides."

That's from Tennyson's "Ulysses." I was surprised to find out that he wrote that poem about the aging Ulysses when he was about 25 years old! Amazing...

[likesmountains 52]

42. I remember one perfect autumn afternoon,my kids and I were in an Aspen grove..and the brilliant

yellow leaves were falling on us...the temp was perfect, the sky bright blue...and the world just seemed so sweet and peaceful..

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

47. The year the shadow became flesh

Beginning with the magical compliment to an unknown girl by a suicidal empathic loner "you look like you'd soon jump off a bridge"

It took her off heroine
It saved her life
It saved her soul

It saved my life
It saved my soul
It saved my education

We litterally fucked off our demons haunting us, no problem no obstacle could stand against our love. As the problems were solved our common path ended. When we parted ways we both we're on our way to life instead of our way to death when we crossed our way for the first time. The turning year in my life and yet to be surpassed. A real life fairy tale im most grateful i could be protagonist in.

[Maine-ah]

48. the past twelve years.

Hopefully for twelve more and many after that. I love my hubbie, my BB my life, I'm just frekin' happy. :bounce: