August Happiness Challenge – Day 8

My 2026 Happiness Icon

Today's Happiness: Anthony Rizzo Appreciation Post. Today is my favorite-most Cub's 37th birthday. He has not been a major league player since 2024, but that hasn't diminished his impact. It's difficult to get hard-and-fast numbers on these things, but it's estimated that his foundation donated $2,000,000 in 2025 across three hospitals: Joe DiMaggio's Children's Hospital in Hollywood, FL; Montefiore Children's Hospital in the Bronx; Lurie Children's Hospital here in Chicago. 

 

Then there are the grants. These are the ones that touch my heart the deepest. Families with a child fighting cancer face expenses insurance won't cover. Hospitals charge for parking, cafeterias charge for meals. A child with leukemia can require months of chemo, while his parents only get two weeks of vacation with pay. How will they make the mortgage? What about daycare for the other kids in the family? Where can they turn? Anthony Rizzo. He has a toy drive each year at Christmas for families so that the siblings get gifts under the tree, too, because, as he's fond of reminding us, families fight pediatric cancer. Now we can argue that things are pretty fucked up if desperate parents have to count on the largesse of a retired first baseman, but the lucky thing is that ballplayer is the indefatigable Anthony Rizzo.

 

He's been on my mind between his birthday and his annual auction, which ran last week during the Cubs-Yankees series. Fans bid on everything from a Taylor Swift autographed guitar for $1,950 to a backstage pass to Watch What Happens Live for $3,000 (who knew Andy Cohen was such a big baseball fan?) to an on-field meet-and-greet with current Cub phenom Pete Crow-Armstrong for $35,500. I'm happy that even though he's retired, celebrities still came through with donations.

 

And I'm happy he's in the world. He gives tirelessly and with a joyful heart and that makes him my hero. 

  

Happy August Happiness Challenge!

 

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.

 

 

Maybe it was only weird for me

Most everything in my neighborhood that matters to me is on one street and within blocks. My bank, the movie theaters, the card shop where I work, two Italian restaurants and one Chinese, my grocery store. It's all there. So that's where I spend most of my life, walking west on that street. If I turn and walk east, I'm at my church. It's right there. But unless I'm headed to church or the post office, I don't walk that way.

Last fall, my church sent up a little "honor system" pantry on the porch of the rectory. There's an old refrigerator and a free standing cabinet available 24/7. It's unfortunately necessary because the "official" food pantry – which does great work that I also support* – requires clients present ID confirming residency and fill out paperwork. Many homeless people do not have mailing addresses, and many others who fear ICE don't want to be found on the food distribution days where they can be "rounded up." It's important to note that ICE is prohibited from stepping onto our porch because it's church property ... and because they totally suck.

Anyway, this week as I dropped food off in the cabinet on the porch, I ran into two homeless gentlemen eating lunch at the picnic table placed there for that purpose. It was the first time I ever saw anyone seated at the table, enjoying the food available to them. They were eating what I assume was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but I didn't look too closely because I was embarrassed.

 

I don't know why I was uncomfortable. They were pleasant and friendly as I added a couple pouches of "tuna to go," a packet of Ramen and a tin of those little Armour sausages to the cabinet. I guess it was weird to feel like Lady Bountiful.

When I was done with my business at the post office, I walked past the rectory porch again and again saw someone. This time an elderly woman, accompanied by two little kids. She represents another group the "official" food pantry can't help. To qualify for food there, your income has to fall below a certain level. What frequently happens is that seniors have trouble making ends meet on their Social Security but they still receive too much for the free food. So they end up on my church's rectory porch.

She had a small Target shopping bag filled with food, but I don't know what she took. Mac and cheese, probably. Kids like it and there's always multiple boxes of mac and cheese in that cabinet. Anyway, I didn't want to stare. I didn't want her to feel she was on display in anyway.

Now that I've seen the picnic table in use, I have gone back with the ketchup and salt packets and disposable plasticware that was cluttering my kitchen drawer. If people are making sandwiches there, these items might come in handy.

So I'm glad I walked east. I need to see who my neighbors are. I feel fortunate to be able to help them. I just wish encountering those in need didn't make me feel so awkward. I think perhaps because it's uncomfortable to confront how we're letting one another down. 

*I'm more careful about the nutrition content of the non-perishables I donate to the "official" food pantry. Usually I go with pasta, soup or canned beans and tuna, because people who receive free food from there have homes with kitchens. Since so many who visit the rectory porch are homeless, it's a little trickier.  

Saturday 9

 Saturday 9: Sugar, Sugar (1969)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week's song is credited to The Archies, a band that never actually existed. The song is performed by singer Ron Dante and studio musicians and backup singers hired on behalf of the five members of the popular Saturday morning Archie Show. Were you a fan of this animated series? Nope.

2) Archie was Archibald Andrews, a character first introduced in the 1941 comic strip. Archie was the linchpin, the leader of the band, and the center of his social group. Tell us about one of the popular kids from your school days. Linda was tall and had stick straight hair. I thought she was the prettiest girl in class (K-8). She also had a remove that made her seem mature (as mature as an 11-year-old can be).

3) The Archies' drummer was Jughead Jones. He was smart, funny, and had a fondness for headwear. Do you often wear hats or caps? Nope.

4) Reggie was the lead singer and bass player. He was a gifted athlete who liked to come in first. If he couldn't win with his natural talents, he was not above cheating. Have you ever cheated in a friendly game? I must have but honestly, I can't think of a single time. So maybe I haven't?

5) Blonde Betty Cooper was on the tambourine. Her hobbies include playing baseball, caring for her cat, and helping Archie work on his car. Tell us three of your favorite pastimes. Watching baseball, caring for my cats and watching movies.

6) Raven-haired Veronica Lodge was the keyboardist and joined Betty for backup vocals. She was a fashion plate, known and loved by Riverdale store owners because of her willingness to spend big bucks to stay on trend. What's the latest thing you've added to your wardrobe? I just got a new bra.

7) The biggest news story of 1969 was one of the biggest stories in history. On July 21, man first stepped onto the moon. Without looking it up, do you remember the astronaut's name? Neil Armstrong.

8) Also in 1969, Triple H was born and today he's in the WWE Hall of Fame. Do you follow professional wrestling? Nope.

9) Random question – Would you prefer to be: a) super successful in business or b) a politician elected to an influential office or c) a champion athlete? A. I think I'd be good at it, except that I don't like authority, which makes being in authority hard for me.