Marie may have loved raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, and bright copper kettles, but I have a different list.
As we approach Thanksgiving, it may be a good time to take stock of what we have. I, for one, spend too much time thinking of the things I don’t have (like enough days off work!) I’ve listed some of my favorite things that I usually don’t mention.
Please send me an email with some of your favorite things. You’re not allowed to do the usual – family, friends, and faith. Why? If we start naming all our favorite people, we will 1) miss someone important, and 2) run out of computer data/hard drive/RAM/cache space. Do any of those even exist anymore?
You can get creative and sneak in a few of the forbidden ones. There may be a surprise in the mail for one random person who responds to this email. Let’s make it email number 12.
A few of my favorite things:
Crawling under a pile of covers on a night when it sounds like the house is going to blow away
Starting to read three new books at the same time and waiting to see which one captivates me
Little girls in sparkly shoes
Movies that leave me saying, “I didn’t see that coming!”
Big blue eyes
Reading a story I wrote years ago, and enjoying what I wrote because I have no memory of composing those words.
Cheese and bacon bits on my green vegetables
Wrapping in a warm comforter, sitting on my sunroom sofa while reading a book about the perils and struggles of mountain climbers or arctic explorers who barely survive the freezing conditions.
Floral designs on just about anything
Leaving the library with a stack of books
The people at my church who hug me, encourage me, and carry me through the crises of life
Victorian houses
Encouraging comments from people who read what I’ve written
Grandchildren who wrap both arms around my legs, so I won’t leave their house.
Hearing the church bells chime through the streets of McAlisterville on a Saturday morning.
A snow-covered world before anyone has a chance to muck it up.
The look on a student’s face when they finally “get it!”
My dad’s stories of his younger years
The little Christmas tree that watches over Route 322 near Newport from November through January.
Rust-colored mums and purple dahlias that linger through October
The anticipation of putting together the 3000-piece jigsaw puzzle hiding under my dresser, waiting for my retirement
Perusing the homes for sale webpage and pretending I could afford the house with six bedrooms and a pool
Warm, fuzzy footies
Coasting downhill on my bicycle… (I have to do a lot of uphills before I get the downhills)
Castles
The member of the family who knows everybody in the county and knows where they live, where they work, and if they’re still alive (so I don’t have to ask and embarrass myself)
Waterfalls
Sister time
Thunderstorms
Peace that passes understanding
Butterflies
Opening a brand-new word puzzle book
The thought of retirement!
Picking green beans early in the morning with my favorite gardener
The art of the greeting card (not quite as impressed with most of the sayings, but the art is beautiful!)
Making a list of things I love instead of grading papers
Your turn! Tell me a few of your favorite things, and let me know someone is out there!
