Three years ago, I wrote things that made me happy on tiny slips of paper and put them into a jar. The object was to do it every day and then read them when the year was over. I’m a little late. That was 2015, and now it’s 2018. But these multicolored pieces of paper still make me happy. Three years ago, I was getting over a badly sprained ankle that I injured between Christmas and New Year’s. (read the blog posts about that here and here). My father had survived his heart surgery and had not yet broken his hip. Like now, I was playing and singing at Sacred Heart and plugging away at my writing career. Annie and I walked these coastal woods most days. Her muzzle wasn’t all white then. The tree had not fallen on my fence and house. And gosh, Medicare was way in the future.
I’m thinking I’ll write little happy notes for this year, too. I can start with this morning’s beautiful pink sunrise. Or maybe last night’s full moon. Or the moment after yesterday’s walk when Annie and I visited with our neighbor Pat and the dogs Harley and Cooper. Three big dogs to pet at once and a friend to talk to: Heaven. Even in the midst of horrible times, we can still find little things to be grateful for.
Here are some of the things that made me smile in 2015.
The ankle:
* First sun in winter. First soak in the hot tub since my injury.
* Buying my own groceries despite limping in with a crutch
* Walking to the end of the block
* New ankle brace arrived. Put shoe on, was able to walk almost like a normal person.
* A real dog walk on my sprained ankle, and it didn’t feel too bad.
* Walking on two good feet.
Food!
* Ham and eggs
* Tuna melt at Fishtails
* Turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce and iced tea
* Big salad with slices of linguica on top, Portuguese sweet bread on the side
* Marionberry pie with vanilla ice cream at The Chalet
* Fresh-baked peanut butter cookies
Writing
* Kind words from an editor who called my novel a feel-good book and my writing masterful
* Reading my poems to the kids and parents in Siletz, feeling like a rock star
* I won a writing contest!
* Reading poems I wrote 34 years ago and finding them good
* Sitting in the sun writing a poem
Music
* Creating a choir of strangers for the World Day of Prayer and making beautiful music from a few pages of words and notes
* Singing full out with mandolin, fiddles, and guitar all in perfect harmony at the South Beach jam
* Feeling the power of my fingers on the keys of a perfectly tuned piano
Miscellaneous
* Laughing with Dad on his 93rd birthday
* Stunning quiet of the coastal forest in soft spring sun. Moss-wrapped fir trees
* The first perfect pink camellia blooms appear on my neighbor’s bush
* Shiny new library books
* Nice repairman makes dryer hum
* Admiring the lawn I just mowed
* Reading and dozing in the loveseat by the fire with Annie sound asleep in my lap
* Spinning out on ice and surviving
* A great night’s sleep
* Doc says I’m healthy
Instead of a jar, this year I’m using a tall, sturdy box with sayings about dogs printed on it. A gift from a friend came in that box, which makes it all the more special.
Join me in saving those little moments. When life gets tough, we can reach in and remember that there are good things to celebrate every day. You’re welcome to share your “moments” here.
Happy New Year to everyone.
Sue
Unleashed in Oregon 