Bluebird On My Shoulder

YES, that is a tattoo. I mean "tat". I must get with the times - don't you think? Yes, that is my shoulder!! This year I decided that I wanted to have a permanent reminder that "happiness is always within reach, but if you push too hard you lose sight of it".

Let me tell you a little about the "Bluebird of Happiness". It has a long and varied history that goes back at least to 1909 when a play was written by Maurice Maeterlink called "The Bluebird". It was about two children who go on a magic journey looking for the Bluebird of Happiness. They don't find it, and when they return home they discover it's been in their back yard all along.

Another story is that in 1948 Art Mooney and his Orchestra had a best-selling record about the Bluebird of Happiness. The words were written by Edward Heyman and Harry Parr Davies.

Here are the lyrics - - -

(verse)
The beggar man and his mighty king are only
diff'rent in name,
For they are treated just the same by fate.
Today a smile and tomorrow tears,
We're never sure what's in store,
So learn your lesson before to late, so

(refrain)
Be like I, hold your head up high,
Till you find a bluebird of happiness.
You will find a greater peace of mind
Knowing there's a bluebird of happiness.
And when he sings to you,
Though you're deep in blue,
You will see a ray of light creep through,
And so remember this, life is no abyss
Somewhere there's a bluebird of happiness.

Life is sweet, tender and complete
When you find the bluebird of happiness.
You will find perfect peace of mind
When you find the bluebird of happiness.
Two hearts that beat as one,
"Neath a new found sun,
We are in a world that's just begun,
And you must sing his song, as you go along,
When you find the bluebird of happiness.

Wishing you many bluebirds of HAPPINESS.