"Don't let the b*****ds get you down," the text message read. I laughed. Out loud. Alone. In my car in the early morning light. In the middle of a long week.I try not to think of my students as b******s, but there are days Ms. Ubergeek uses those words. I can create whole and correct sentences with those words alone. But I don't usually feel that way.
The text message from my friend who is a war veteran and no stranger therefore to danger made me realize I didn't want Wednesday, the day it arrived, to be a day of running from ankle biters. As I read the message at the red light before I jumped on the highway, I thought, "What kind of a day will I have?" and I meant the question. I was going to make my own day. It would be a good one. And I would laugh in the face of aggravation.
And I almost remembered to.
Later, that got me to thinking of all the good stuff--and there is plenty--that makes my days go round. Caryn had invited me a few weeks ago to go ahead and list the good thoughts, so I did this week so that I will remember to laugh in the face of aggravation:
1. The red roses my nephews gave me for Valentine's Day;
2. The delightful, silly nephews;
3. Their wonderful cousin, my daughter, who still thinks its marvelous to be tucked in at night;
4. Friends who get it right all the time and make me laugh myself out of my own seriousness;
5. Mom and dad who are there for me and my kid all the time;
6. Dad who can translate the shenanigans of union practice into terms I understand;
7. A guinea pig who is always happy to be held;
8. Pink skies that light the morning;
9. Birds singing at 5 a.m. again;
10. Hot coffee, toast, quiet, and your smile.
It's all good. Just have to remember.
Blog Your Blessings
34 Comments
My smile? Why Sandy! I never dreamed (*wink*).
ReplyDeleteI know those days. those days when I can make whole, intelligible sentences of "those words" and never use one twice.
Then Tonka gives me "that look" and everything's okay again. He always seems to know just what to "say".
Even though he can't actually talk.
Those are really wonderful colours! I can feel them juping off my screen :-)
ReplyDeleteI am happy to see your many blessings.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful rose! And what a wonderful list of good things to feel blessed with: thank you for sharing them, and thank your texting friend for the wise message we can all use!
ReplyDeleteThose are good words though... Andy has a saying about his father, "he was a man of few words, but they were good ones".
ReplyDeleteI hope your Thursday and Friday were good days.
I like the lovely red/purple rose. Your list of blessings are nice. I'd like to experience #9. I couldn't wake up as early as 5:00 a.m. and neither will I hear the birds singing w/ my hearing devices. The first thing I do when I wake up at 8:00 a.m. (the earliest) is to put my hearing devices on, so I could hear the sounds around me. You're so blessed to hear the birds singing.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Sandy! Happy thoughts these days are very rare in my life -- but thank goodness I am blessed with some.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes. Oh, oh, yes.
ReplyDeleteIlligitimi non carborundum in Latin isn't it? Not sure about the spelling anymore. I used to have a coffee cup with that phrase written on it. I don't know how teachers cope today. I started teaching in 1969 and quit the same year. My wife still teaches part-time, but even she has trouble with all the non-educational activities required by legislatures in the name of a better education. Hang in there. Pappy
ReplyDeleteIt's rewarding to focus our energy on the positive things that put a smile on our faces. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are always positive, Sandy. A very good quality, indeed.
ReplyDeleteA nice, dark look at this rose!
ReplyDeleteI like the rose you've pictured and also your happy thoughts. I need to remember happy thoughts more often.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Sandy.
ReplyDeleteyou inspire me to take note of my blessings, sandy. thank you.
ReplyDeleteso sweet of your nephews to send you roses. they must love you! :D
this such a wonderful picture and post Sandy!
ReplyDeleteThank you being my friend and sharing your smile with Me.
How can this be?
ReplyDeleteI came to visit after my post to find that you are alos blogging your blessing.
What a heartfelt entry.
It is and always is ATTITUDE isn't it?
I too am very thankful...TJ
Reading your post made my day. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think of the blessings
ReplyDeleteI think of the smiles
The smiles that are reaching
Across all these miles
The smiles that you send us
From your home in the east
If a smile was a meal
You send us a feast
I think if I had gotten those red roses, they would have helped me to forget the negative things in life for awhile too! I will have a BYB post up later tonight when I am abck on my computer.
ReplyDeletewhen life gives you lemons-make lemonade and be grateful for the lemons. You know what I mean by that. My grandma used to say that-she was widowed with 5 kids and a 6th grade education. Smile!
ReplyDeleteLooks like I can comment here now. Had problems earlier. This is such a lovely, telling post Sandy. Your last line speaks volumes. I am contemplating your words and the gorgeous photo. Excellent!
ReplyDeleteHugs, G
Your spirit breaks through the clouds once again and brightens the landscape of my day.
ReplyDeleteYou're so wise to insist on "making your own day". It an easy thing to resolve to do... not so easy to follow through with. But, if it can be done, YOU, my sweet young friend, will be the one to do it.
Thanks for your list. It was a great reminder of so many things I too am happy to have in my life.
Sandy, I have nephews too that are blessings and someone who smiles at me and makes things all better! :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo Sandy! I can relate in that lately with my health troubles I have to force myself to remember the good things, and my own blessings :)
ReplyDelete...and in the best possible sense of the song, without the original "movie image" (although it too offers humour and of late, has lost much of it's stigma as people do watch it,) I hear the strains of Monty Python's "Always Look at the Bright Side of Life"! :)
ReplyDeleteA goodly blessing!
Any day where you awaken is a good one. I thought I would play the crabby old woman today--because I am! LOL
ReplyDeleteThat is a gorgeous picture of that rose.
Riches are yours, Sandy.
ReplyDeletewow! looks like i missed a lot of posts here. im trying to catch up.
ReplyDeletea coffee! yes to that!
What a lovely red rose ... and marvelous list too filled with the simple gifts that bring joy no matter what. I have a coffee mug given to me by a friend one year I struggled with a challenging group. It says "Don't let the turkeys get you down." It worked wonders ;--)
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,
You are so right-the good is all around us if we just remember to look for it!
ReplyDeleteThe rose and the colors in it are having an effect on me. So romantic. And following my last comment makes me laugh.
ReplyDeleteIt's the little things that add up to the most.
Lovely spirit-boosters all around.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list, I truly enjoyed reading it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being here.