Tag: 100 happy days

100 Happy Days: 48


A glass of pink lemonade on a hot day makes me think I’m seventeen again. Steve and Bobby are outside building a fence in our backyard. Daddy’s at work being an assistant principal because there’s really no such thing as a three-month vacation for educators. Mother and I are making stacks of grilled cheese sandwiches. Baby Josh is sleeping in a room down the hall. After Mother makes the boys come in from the noonday sun and we eat our sandwiches, the iced pink lemonade will be constantly refilled as they, Debby, and I sit at the dining room table and use markers to color posters of flowers–hers–and tropical fish–mine. When Josh wakes up, we’ll take turns holding him and making him laugh.

A glass of pink lemonade on a hot day is a glass of memories.

100 Happy Days: 46

Somewhere in my online perusal of young adult fiction, I saw descriptions of The Young World, a post-apocalyptic novel set in Manhattan after an illness has claimed the lives worldwide of adults and young children. Teens have banded into tribes to fight for survival–and maybe to find a cure. The premise sounded interesting (even to someone who doesn’t typically read dystopian fiction–me!), but what I never noticed is that the author is Chris Weitz. I’ve talked about him on my blog before as someone whose work and general all-round attitude I admire.

I was on Murder By The Book’s web site early Sunday trying to choose new titles to order through them for my Nook when I saw that the store had set up a Q&A between Weitz and moderator Mandy Curtis, along with a book signing and a discussion of the influence of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome on Weitz’s work (as well as a screening of the movie, because all of this took place at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema).

Though I’ve been on an extended break from Mel Gibson and his movies, an opportunity to meet and get a book signed by Chris Weitz was irresistible–and a definite source of a happiness on a Sunday evening.

100 Happy Days: 44


“I’m an old Southern woman and we’re supposed to wear funny looking hats and ugly clothes and grow vegetables in the dirt… I don’t know why, I don’t make the rules!” Ouiser, Steel Magnolias

Tom and I saw Steel Magnolias in the theater with Lynne and Craig when it was released. I’m not sure she’s forgiven me yet. As I said then, “It’s Southern. There are a bunch of female friends. One has a beautiful young daughter who’s ill. What did you think was going to happen?”

I don’t make the rules!

100 Happy Days: 42

More mail! The origami butterfly is from Renee the Beautiful Dog of St. Louis, made by her person Rob just for me. Thank you Rob and Renee! And the post card is another from Marika, who says that Branson traffic made Lisa look just like Daffy.

I wonder if she also sputtered and spit? Because that image is almost as good as a butterfly. But not quite. Marika, I’m sorry that the mail carrier didn’t check either of the options you provided–probably trying to pretend s/he wasn’t reading the postcard.

100 Happy Days: 41

I’ve delayed since Day 20 doing another full-on food post, but I can’t help it. I may have cooked it, but you can blame Lynne for this one. A little bit of eggplant, some okra, a yellow and white corn medley–but the real culinary delight is that salad, with fresh pear and cherry tomatoes and cucumbers pulled right off the vines in Lynne’s garden. Oh, man–who needs meat?

Here’s another one taken with my phone a couple of nights ago. That night it was okra, squash, purple hull peas, and the same fresh goodies in the salad.

Just like the tables of my people (except there’d also be meat, rolls and/or cornbread, and sweet tea).

100 Happy Days: 40

Something that makes me happy on most Mondays is when the photos I took of the previous week’s transport are posted to the rescue’s blog. Today I was standing in line at the grocery store when I spotted a marked-down toy in a bin. Purchased, painted, enhanced with logos cut from a letter I’d received, and–presto! My own little rescue van.


Now I need tiny Cowboy Jon, Alain, and Ed as drivers and some wee dogs and cats. I’m on a mission!