Fanta = Love

It's not a minute over 10AM and there he is sending the girls out for a treat.  In Rwanda, there's no greater privilege than when someone serves you Fanta.  It doesn't matter if it's really coca-cola or Sprite or orange soda, the word for this treat is Fanta, and for momentous occasions, nothing else will do.

So go ahead, take the cap off that warm soft drink and sling it back like it's champagne on New Year's Eve, even if it's bright and early on a Wednesday morning.  Fanta says someone is happy to see you.  Fanta says you're an honored guest.  Fanta says you're presence is a moment to remember.

We sat in silence and drank our fair share and then some--our host's eyes shining with happiness.  A houseful of girls giddy from a sugar buzz.  How is it that the simplest things can tell you that you matter?  How is it that the magical appearance of a lukewarm soda can let you know you're loved?

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What simple thing is making your eyes shine with happiness today?  Lend us a look in the comments below.

Comments

[Mrs Soup]

What's making me happy is that I now have the Fanta jingle stuck in my head. It makes me giggle!

[Puna]

The various animals around my home. And the fact that I am leaving work soon:)

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2009/08/august-28-one-big-happy-family/

[robyn]

simple thing making me heart sing today? finally figuring out how to take up-close photographs of my knitting! thank you mini tripod for your gloriousness!

http://robynsdevinelife.blogspot.com/2009/08/melanie-preview.html

[Bridge]

http://ridethewavesoflife.blogspot.com/2009/08/claire-picking-plums.html

[beth]

surprises make me happy...

http://moredoors.blogspot.com/2009/08/flying-with-hope.html

[georgia]

it's the simple things in life that make it sweet. i could not agree more!

small things in nature make me smile inside and out---like this:
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2009/08/golden-field.html

and this:
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2009/08/o-simple-thing.html
{well, i guess this one is not such a small thing--but you get the idea}
:-)

[michelle]

A great big Golden Retriever grin makes me very happy.

http://stickerdog.com/?paged=5

[Kath]

An impromptu trip to the theatre with my husband last night, words in the program that moved me ....

http://www.soeursdujour.com/2009/08/sunday-in-the-park-with-george.html

[kosenrufu mama]

these moments...http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/08/alba.html

[Marcie]

An older man 'at play' with is dog:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=904

[Sophie_vf]

a retrieved memory, turned up unexpectedly while digging through old slides to scan:

http://forloveandidleness.blogspot.com/2009/08/caroline-bay-1987.html

[emma]

Wow, this brought back memories, not of Rwanda, but of Prague, of all places. When I lived there in the early 90s, Fanta was ubiquitous and a great treat for us expats craving something to help us wash down the fried fat and cabbage (you can only drink so much really good, cheap beer). We discovered very quickly, however, that we could stare longingly at the warm bottles placed on the top shelves of the tiny neighborhood grocery stores - point, beg, whatever - but unless we asked for "faahntah" rather than "fantuh," we would just get blank stares and no service.

One more reason I absolutely love to travel.

And to answer you question, the thing that's making my eyes shine with happiness today is being able to spend hours catching up on all my favorite blogs and writing, writing, writing whatever my heart desires.

[Jessica]

My garden makes me happy. Greens and browns, but most of all life that flourishes with just some sun and a little water. If only we all could be content with so little. And when I'm in my garden, I am.

http://quotidian-photography.blogspot.com/2009/08/day-168-august-26-light-on-leaves.html

[jordan shoes]

I have to move through it slowly like wading in the shallows of the sea. Baby steps. Baby steps.Wow this is a great resource.. I’m enjoying it.. good article