“It doesn’t take much to make me happy,” says my husband Paul. So last year, as a Thanksgiving exercise, I identified a list of ten small comforting things to show that “it doesn’t take much to make me happy, either.” I elected to repeat that exercise this year. Most likely, I thought, I’ll find some of the very same items on my list. Maybe a few will have dropped, or raised, like the college football-team rankings.
Formerly Top Ten
I reviewed last year’s list. Wow, so trivial. Of course, that was my intention, to identify the smallest things that ease me through the daily routine. It turns out that the items from 2018 lost their relevance this year. Here’s what I found.
The dust-buster (10) sits in a cupboard, uncharged, alongside the heating pad (9), which I’ve not been inclined to use yet.
Netflix (8) has lost its appeal. Once I finished West Wing, I waited the entire year for season 3 of The Crown, and binged that in one week.
Salted butter (7) is no longer a novelty.
Phone (6) conversations with my dad have ceased since he’s been ill.
Amazon surpassed USPS (5) in our mail-order life.
I can’t believe I even had pie crusts (4) on last year’s list. When or if this year’s Thanksgiving dinner will occur is still a question mark.
The one exception, heated car seats (3), claims a spot as part of a package this year.
I have not watched the NFL RedZone (2) even once and teams are jockeying for playoffs.
We’ve been using the Keurig daily, even more convenient than the coffee pot (1).
Current Most Valuable Ten
The year’s life events conspired to push last year’s trifling comforts off the page. Apparently, it takes a great deal to make me happy. This Thanksgiving I’m grateful for these ten major things.
10. My 2011 Subaru Outback. Chariot to everything on this list, odometer 180,000+ miles.
9. Michele Obama. Her story in her voice deepened my insights on humanity.
8. Price Chopper Market. A bright, convenient, abundant source of all food needs.
7. Macsherry Library. My access to live and printed cerebral nourishment.
6. Girlfriends, near and far, from past and present. A pool of strength for life’s challenges.
5. Poets & Writers, INK of Cape Vincent. Consistent source of metta and chi.
4. The open border between the United States and Canada. Our access to family.
3. My son and granddaughters. The key purpose for my decade of 60.
2. Tami. Sister, friend, and teammate in elder care.
1. Paul. My perennial partner and patron.
Think of this, I start every day with the number one major thing for which I am grateful.
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