August Happiness Challenge -- Day 19

Today's happiness: Abe. He's iconic. He's patriotic. And, unless you have some kinda creepy Confederate fetish thing going, you simply gotta love him.

My nephew certainly does. When he was a little boy, we talked Lincoln all the time. His first train ride was with me when we went down to Springfield to see the Lincoln sites.

That's why I was so happy to find this greeting card. It's a cutout of Mr. Lincoln himself with a sheet of stickers. I put "GOOD LUCK" on the inside, along with a $20 giftcard to Burger King (the anchor of the student union). I put Abe's stovepipe chapeau and "NICE HAT" on the back of the envelope.

It will make my nephew happy to get mail. It will make him happy to be able to eat free burgers. It will make him happy, during this first week in the new away-at-college chapter of his life, to get something from home.

And that all makes me happy.


via GIPHY

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.

 

Sunday Stealing

Stolen from Penny Royal Princess 

1: 3 Fears
•  Air travel
•  Clowns
•  Highways during nighttime storms (this is new; I can't pinpoint when I started being afraid of this)

2: 3 things I love
In alphabetical order:
•  The Beatles
•  Cats
•  The Cubs

3: 4 turns on
•  Beatle fans
•  Cat lovers
•  Cub fans
•  Classic movie fans

4: 4 turns off
•  That myopic "I-hate-the-media-they're-the-enemies-of-the-people" crap. Journalism is the rough draft of history. And it's always bad form to let those in power determine whether the press is "fair." They never think it is! Quoting Stalin tends to be a bad thing, too, folks. Oh, and by the way, how do you know your President demeans the press at every rally he attends? Because the media covers him doing it. (Sigh. I'll get off my soapbox now.)
•  "Dog people" who think that you can't love cats; "cat people" who disparage dogs
•  Bullies
•  Hypocrites
Turn offs make me grumpy. I wish we could have stopped at turn ons.

5: My best friend
It changes. These days it's Henry, my Key West buddy. No one sees the good in me the way he does. I treasure that so. It's like being wrapped in eiderdown.

6: My favorite book
Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers. Elizabeth Edwards' memoir is a searing saga of spirituality, vulnerability, and finally, acceptance.



7: My best first date
Are you asking me to describe a generic first date? Or to recall an actual outstanding first date? The answers would be different.


8: How tall am I
Nearly 5'2


9: What do I miss
Actually being 5'2. I think I may have shrunk!

10: What time were I born
I was born at the stroke of midnight between November 21 and 22. The stroke of midnight does not exist legally, so the hospital told my mom she had to choose -- 11:59 or 12:01. She was still quite doped up (I was a big baby) and confused about what she was asked, but she chose 12:01, which made it 11/22. Astrologers love this story because I was born on the cusp of a cusp.

11: Favorite color
Pantone 294. Cubbie blue. It's my special favorite when worn by Anthony Rizzo, my favoritest Cub.

First baseman, cancer survivor, children's advocate, GREAT GUY!

12: Do I have a crush Always


13: Favorite quote
I'll go back to Philip Graham: Journalism is the rough draft of history.


14: Favorite place
This changes, too. These days, my mind likes to travel back to the holidays in Key West. This year, I'm returning to the same hotel, and the same pool.

Those are my toes, CHRISTMAS MORNING!

15: Favorite food
This changes, too. Lately it's chocolate ice cream.

16: Do I use sarcasm
Why ever would I?

17: What am I listening to right now
Aretha Franklin. There's a tribute on NBC's Sunday Today.

18: First thing I notice in new person
Hair. I'm extremely hair-motivated.

19: Eye color
Green


20: Hair color
Light brown with blonde streaks

August Happiness Challenge -- Day 18

Today's happiness: An afternoon nap. A luxurious high point of a lazy Saturday.

via GIPHY

Each day in August you are to post about something that makes *you* happy. Pretty simple. And, it doesn't even have to be every day if you don't want it to be. It's a great way to remind ourselves that there are positive things going on in our lives, our communities, and the world.