Arts and Lifestyle Wednesday Presented by Cinematic Visions-Make Me Smile-A Vital 2020 Self-Reminder of Favorite Things
In going about my business over the past six weeks or so, I have been in many places that are playing Christmas music over their speakers. For some reason, the song “My Favorite Things” gets mixed in to this. It is not a Christmas song, it of course is a show tune from “The Sound of Music”. But I guess the sentiment of the song has a certain holiday feeling. I don’t particularly like the tune, but I do like the intent. The last time I heard it, it resonated in the fact that this year, maybe like no other, we should think of the small pleasures of our life.
This already would have gone in the books as a not so great year in my world. My wife broke her ankle back in June and subsequently has had other health concerns, My Dad’s health has deteriorated and he is now isolated in a nursing home back in Massachusetts. Then, of course, there has been Covid to pile on. However, the point of this exercise is not to grouse. Everyone has had it tough, and many have had it much tougher than me. But, I have to admit to having more than a couple bad mental health days. Actually, I am kind of surprised there haven’t been more. Then, what better thing to do as this dismal year comes to a close than to remind yourself of the things that put a little grin on your face? This will be totally random, no real structure, pure stream of consciousness. A therapeutic list for me, and hopefully, a smile or two for you.
My wife’s big blue eyes.
Randomly flipping through the Baseball Encyclopedia.
Watching very skilled people dance.
The smell of roasting coffee, even though I don’t like the taste, and haven’t had a cup in my life.
Gazing at a driveway I just shoveled.
Our corgi Quinnie’s bouncing little gait. Actually, about everything about that dog is a treat.
The circus dog circling and leaping of our more challenging dog Charlie when I bring a treat outside to get him to go to the bathroom. The dog is so much if a handful, my wife has threated to “throw him in the river” countless times. But he’s too damn lovable for that.
Playing golf, often by myself. I miss it. For various reasons I played less this year than in decades, but when I do……
Hearing an obscure song you really like for the first time in years. A recent example was Molly Hatchett’s “Dreams I’ll Never See”. I’m not sure I had heard it since the time it came out in the late 70’s.
The lyric that inspired part of the title of this piece. Chicago’s line “Tell me you will stay, make me smile”. That, well, makes me smile.
Keeping score at a ballgame with different colored pens.
Puerto Vallarta
Watching “Diner” for the 107th time or so, and starting to laugh before the punch lines are delivered. Kevin Bacon’s Fenwick: “F%#k Mature”
Admiring my freshly vacuumed carpeting, when I do it.
Grilled octopus.
The first sip (gulp?) of cold beer after a hot round of golf. It’s one great benefit to the fact that I don’t drink when I play.
Mark Knopfler….anytime.
A Mavericks concert, which is a party, which is one I would like to, pretty please, attend soon.
Savoring lunch, my only meal of the day.
Rubbing my wife’s sore feet while we watch an old movie.
Covering the 2014 and 2105 Royals playoff runs.
George Carlin…anytime.
“Parasite” becoming the first foreign language film to win an Oscar. So great, I forgot about the subtitles after about eight minutes, and the last new release I reviewed before the pandemic.
Kansas sunsets.
I started writing this December 21st. Every year, I delight in the fact that it is the shortest day of the year, and now it will start getting lighter later.
Raymond Chandler novels. Wish he wrote more than seven.
Robert B. Parker’s “Spenser” series. Helped fill the void of the above. Glad he wrote more than forty of them.
Ramen Noodles. One of the positive bi-products of having cancer. All I could stand to eat for a while, never ate it prior, still like it after.
Vanilla ice cream. Plain pizza. Best way to judge each.
Harry’s Razors. Unsolicited. I pay for them. Light years better than any other. So durable I eventually switch blades just because, often after a month or beyond.
The first sip (gulp) of Coke Zero after a workout. .
Riding my bicycle all around a small town.
The Waco Kid……and just about everything else about “Blazing Saddles”, with the campfire scene about in last place.
Greta Garbo’s first laugh in “Ninotchka”
Watching all sports, but the great joy of developing a passion for soccer later in life. Now a staple.
British series on PBS.
Ken Burns…anytime.
The joy of getting to go to the Final Four for almost twenty years.
Thinking about my first date with my wife on the rooftop patio at O’Dowds.
Driving down Massachusetts roads with tree canopies blocking the sky.
Body surfing. Few better feelings than perfectly catching a wave and almost being airborne.
My Mom’s wisdom.
“Barney Miller”
John Oliver
The south of France.
Broadway musicals….on Broadway. When? That will be a life celebration the next time it occurs.
My daughters, everything about them, and now how they have become great young women. And how close they are to each other.
Sharing a glance, a smile, a laugh, with my wife as we share an entertainment.
Traveling with my wife. She is always great company, but even more so then.
Austin City Limits, and especially discovering new music there.
Midland Theater.
Again, all sports, but, man, playoff hockey.
Merely dribbling a basketball.
Doing play-by-play.
Old time radio detective shows.
“The Shop Around the Corner” and “Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol” around the holiday.
Turnip, and liverwurst, two of the guilty pleasure-ist foods I bet you can imagine.
Sunshine any day in 2020. Seems like the gloomy days were that much gloomier.
Geez, see how well this is going. I could go on and on, and isn’t that the point. If you are feeling a bit down and out, maybe sit down and make a list, or just starting making a mental one. And you will be amazed at how many things you treasure. I literally just scratched the surface. I also do social media posts with every piece of material I put out, so I had to scroll through many photos on my computer for that, and boy did that make me smile.
Many big things sucked out loud in 2020. But always remember that little things mean A LOT!
Happy New Year!