Little Things Mean A Lot...Especially Right Now

On Saturday we had a couple who are great friends over for some outdoor social distance grilling. It provided a dandy excuse to spruce things up around the yard, and so I spent much of the day cleaning the deck, weeding, pruning, and most work intensive, mulching. I spread seven bags of black mulch in various spots around the premises. It’s not the most fun work. The bags are heavy and fairly unwieldy as you dump the material. But when you are finished, there is a great sense of satisfaction in how much it upgrades the look of the yard. It is a small pleasure, but a very tangible one, and it got me thinking about little things that put a smile on your face, or at least a grin. And right now, with the Groundhog Day nature of our existence, I thought musing, and listing some of those things would be valuable in a small way.

I’ll start with a weird one, and then on to more pleasingly ordinary ones. I have heard that this is actually a common thing, but actually hitting a golf ball while in a dream state is quite an accomplishment. I can’t tell you how many times while dreaming that I have tried to tee off, only to have some some absurd impediment prevent it. When (or if), you finally succeed, it is a pleasure, or at least a relief. It happened to me last night. OK, now on to real life, wide awake, miniature joys.

My wife’s smile

Our Corgi Quinnie baying away in unison with my wife’s opera practice.

I don’t drink while I play, so the first cold beer after a blisteringly hot round of golf.

The first cold beer just about any time.

A new article of clothing that works just right.

Vacuuming, right when you are done, and the grooves are still in the carpet.

A sip of Coke Zero in the middle of the night. I lost my salivary gland to cancer, and sometimes I’m pretty parched at 3 A.M. I had stopped drinking soda before cancer, but it sure is a bubbly delight now.

Turnip. Go ahead and laugh.

Zoom calls…..only the ones with my daughters.

I seldom go bowling, but a strike sure is cool when I do.

Kansas sunsets.

A couple walking hand in hand.

Immediately picking up your tee after a great tee shot.

Three holes-in-one.

Plain old vanilla ice cream.

Movie popcorn…..can we go back?

Bette Davis’s eyes….the song, too.

Mark Knopfler

Hitting the zeros when you are pumping a set amount of gas, 15.01 is a bummer.

Revisiting any favorite old film.

Our deck.

Dancing in your seat while driving.

Thunderstorms

Being drenched with sweat after a great workout. I do miss running, though.

The runout of many songs, but let’s just pick “Runnin’ Down a Dream”.

Having dumb things pop into your head when you are writing something like this.

Discovering Ramen at an advanced age because it was all I could eat during radiation, and then having it become a silly lunch favorite.

A good nap.

Greta Garbo laughing in “Ninotchka”. I think I’ll make just a movie list some time soon for you.

Laughing at a favorite comedy film, even though you know the jokes by heart.

I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee, and I have never had a cup.

Riding a bicycle around a small town.

Rubbing my wife’s sore feet, although now she expects it while we watch TV.

Waking up, and seeing that it’s an hour and a half before the alarm will go off. Doing the same, and seeing it’s five minutes away sucks.

Body surfing.

The sound of a faraway train.

Back roads.

Black Hills

Reading a good book on a plane. The only time I have time for it, and it’s been a while.

My wife’s smile. So nice I had to say it twice.

It’s a list that could go on and on, and that is the point here. It is too easy right now to be frustrated, and bored, and have a feeling of helplessness. I freely admit I have done my share of it. But maybe this short list can inspire you to scribble down, or type out, one of your own. I think it will be therapeutic.

Maybe right now I will go wild and put a little chocolate sauce on the plain vanilla.