Happies

Sometimes when I want to talk about things that make me happy, I call these things my "happies." Not sure where I got that from (it sounds an awful lot like something Jacob might say), but it's cute and silly so I like it. I was reflecting on things I'm thankful for, since it's Thanksgiving and all, and I thought... hm, these are my happies for the year!

Before I list some of these happies, I'd like to just mention that while I'm writing about all the wonderful things in my life, there are nearly a hundred people dead in Mumbai. Terrorists have targeted US and British citizens in this part of India and the damage is horriffic. It would be rude and careless of me not to at least make mention of this unimaginable devistation on a day like today. My list thus starts with being thankful for and happy about being here, in America, where even though much is wrong and unfair, I do not worry about my own safety and well-being. My heart hurts for those that have been targeted or have died merciless and senseless deaths at the hands of terrorists, biggots... the list could go on.

After that, my list of happies continues... I have happies for Jacob and the love we created together and the family we are about to start, my parents that are always supportive of me (how I got so lucky, I don't know!), siblings that can drive me crazy but I know still love me, an education that I was afforded and never take for granted, a home that smells of Jacob's good cookin' almost every day, a car that runs like a gem, enough money in my pocket to make it, warm socks on my feet right now, a host of the world's best people as my friends, the snow on the ground at home in Akron, the sunshine today (finally!), Jacob's family - my soon to be in-laws - that I love so much, the new scarf and gloves my mom gave me yesterday, the notion that this semester is just about over, the idea that I have fingernails and how bad life would be if I didn't have them, the same kind of sentiment toward teeth and limbs and digits, the clean water I drink daily, the warm showers I take daily, the cell phone I use to stay in touch, the cool computer that makes life easier, the ability to enjoy silent moments, the cat named Moses that purrs when you just look at him, the other cats that I love and are getting old, my eyesight and ability to hear and taste and touch the world, the memories from France with Jacob, my books, my music, my health, my lipgloss (I have really dry, cracked lips guys...), my clothes, my shoes, my toothbrush, my...

Have I forgotten anything? Probably. But, I have lots of happies. Some big, some small, some deeply meaningful, some just plain silly. But the point is, that despite going through quite possibly the most difficult year or so of my life, I have lots of happies to celebrate. And that's the point of a day like to today. Forget stuffing yourselves silly with tryptophan and mashed carbs, take just one minute to list all your happies and see how much that fills you up.

To all of you out there that have made my life happier, I'm very thankful for you. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!