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365 Reasons to Smile – Day 52
My grandmother almost spoke with shame about being left-handed. In school, she had been forced to write with her right hand, and she continued to do so until she died at the age of 96.
But she did everything else with her left hand and often apologized for doing so. I never understand that.
In elementary school, I remember thinking the left-handed students were so much more interesting than those of us who used our right hands.
So when my son showed tendencies of being left-handed, I thought that made him more interesting too.
But as my grandmother watched him grab a crayon in his chubby toddler hand, she shook her head and muttered “Oh, no. He’s left-handed.”
I told her he’d be fine.
And he is.
So is my daughter.
And I’ve thoroughly enjoyed having two left-handed children.
The coincidence and the link to my grandmother always makes me smile.
Day 52: Lefties
Day 51: The Neighborhood Deer Day 50: Campfires
Day 49: Childhood Crushes Day 48: The Words “Miss You”
Day 47: Birthday Stories Day 46: Nature’s Hold on Us
Day 45: Play-Doh Day 44: First Day of School Pictures
Day 43: Calvin and Hobbes Day 42: Appreciative Readers
Day 41: : Marilyn Monroe’s Best Quote Day 40: Being Silly
Day 39: Being Happy Exactly Where You Are Day 38: Proud Grandparents
Day 37: Chocolate Chip Cookies Day 36: Challenging Experiences that Make Great Stories
Day 35: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Day 34: Accepting the Fog Day 33: I See the Moon
The Stonehenge Scene from This is Spinal Tap
Day 30: Unlikely Friendships Day 29: Good Samaritans
Day 28: Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet? Day 27: Shadows
Day 26: Bike Riding on Country Roads
Day 24: Hibiscus Day 23: The Ice Cream Truck
Day 22: The Wonderful World of Disney Day 21: Puppy love
Day 20 Personal Theme Songs Day 19: Summer Clouds
Day 18: Bartholomew Cubbin’s Victory Day 17: A Royal Birth Day 16: Creative Kids Day 15: The Scent of Honeysuckle Day 14: Clip of Kevin Kline Exploring His Masculinity Day 13: Random Text Messages from My Daughter Day 12: Round Bales of Hay Day 11: Water Fountains for Dogs Day 10: The Rainier Beer Motorcycle Commercial Day 9: Four-Leaf Clovers Day 8: Great Teachers We Still Remember Day 7: Finding the missing sock Day 6: Children’s books that teach life-long lessons Day 5: The Perfect Photo at the Perfect Moment Day 4: Jumping in Puddles Day 3: The Ride Downhill after the Struggle Uphill Day 2: Old Photographs Day 1: The Martians on Sesame Street
365 Reasons to Smile – Day 51
The deer in my neighborhood are always hiding behind something, but my dog Rodney always spots them before I do.
As I get older, I know I should do more exercises for my upper body, but they just aren’t as fun as ones involving my legs. My legs take me places, and since I never mastered the hand stand or cartwheels, my arms don’t.
So instead of doing arm exercises, I convince myself that walking my German Shepherd, Rodney, twice a day is just as good.
He’s strong and he pulls, so there’s plenty of resistance.
He also lunges when he sees a rabbit, a squirrel or a cat. Generally, I’m prepared and can react.
What I’m never prepared for are the deer that silently hide in the trees and behind bushes.
But Rodney knows they are there, and I have to use all my strength to hold him back whenever he senses them.
I might be better able to control him if I did arm exercises, but I doubt I ever will. Instead, I’ll just appreciate the deer for their small contribution to my exercise regimen.
And thinking about that always makes me smile.
Day 51: The Neighborhood Deer Day 50: Campfires
Day 49: Childhood Crushes Day 48: The Words “Miss You“
Day 47: Birthday Stories Day 46: Nature’s Hold on Us
Day 45: Play-Doh Day 44: First Day of School Pictures
Day 43: Calvin and Hobbes Day 42: Appreciative Readers
Day 41: : Marilyn Monroe’s Best Quote Day 40: Being Silly
Day 39: Being Happy Exactly Where You Are Day 38: Proud Grandparents
Day 37: Chocolate Chip Cookies Day 36: Challenging Experiences that Make Great Stories
Day 35: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Day 34: Accepting the Fog Day 33: I See the Moon
The Stonehenge Scene from This is Spinal Tap
Day 30: Unlikely Friendships Day 29: Good Samaritans
Day 28: Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet? Day 27: Shadows
Day 26: Bike Riding on Country Roads
Day 24: Hibiscus Day 23: The Ice Cream Truck
Day 22: The Wonderful World of Disney Day 21: Puppy love
Day 20 Personal Theme Songs Day 19: Summer Clouds
Day 18: Bartholomew Cubbin’s Victory Day 17: A Royal Birth Day 16: Creative Kids Day 15: The Scent of Honeysuckle Day 14: Clip of Kevin Kline Exploring His Masculinity Day 13: Random Text Messages from My Daughter Day 12: Round Bales of Hay Day 11: Water Fountains for Dogs Day 10: The Rainier Beer Motorcycle Commercial Day 9: Four-Leaf Clovers Day 8: Great Teachers We Still Remember Day 7: Finding the missing sock Day 6: Children’s books that teach life-long lessons Day 5: The Perfect Photo at the Perfect Moment Day 4: Jumping in Puddles Day 3: The Ride Downhill after the Struggle Uphill Day 2: Old Photographs Day 1: The Martians on Sesame Street
365 Reasons to Smile – Day 50
I read somewhere that our natural attraction to a campfire is part of the human collective memory. For centuries, we depended on fire for heat, cooking and a place to gather for camaraderie.
Even now, when we have other energy sources and gathering places, we are still drawn to the orange flames, crackling sparks and smell of smoke.
Some of my best memories occurred on stumps, benches and folding chairs that circled around campfires. There’s incredible comfort in the simplicity of singing songs, telling stories and roasting marshmallows while watching the embers die.
Those memories always makes me smile.
Day 50: Campfires
Day 49: Childhood Crushes Day 48: The Words “Miss You”
Day 47: Birthday Stories Day 46: Nature’s Hold on Us
Day 45: Play-Doh Day 44: First Day of School Pictures
Day 43: Calvin and Hobbes Day 42: Appreciative Readers
Day 41: : Marilyn Monroe’s Best Quote Day 40: Being Silly
Day 39: Being Happy Exactly Where You Are Day 38: Proud Grandparents
Day 37: Chocolate Chip Cookies Day 36: Challenging Experiences that Make Great Stories
Day 35: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Day 34: Accepting the Fog Day 33: I See the Moon
The Stonehenge Scene from This is Spinal Tap
Day 30: Unlikely Friendships Day 29: Good Samaritans
Day 28: Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet? Day 27: Shadows
Day 26: Bike Riding on Country Roads
Day 24: Hibiscus Day 23: The Ice Cream Truck
Day 22: The Wonderful World of Disney Day 21: Puppy love
Day 20 Personal Theme Songs Day 19: Summer Clouds
Day 18: Bartholomew Cubbin’s Victory Day 17: A Royal Birth Day 16: Creative Kids Day 15: The Scent of Honeysuckle Day 14: Clip of Kevin Kline Exploring His Masculinity Day 13: Random Text Messages from My Daughter Day 12: Round Bales of Hay Day 11: Water Fountains for Dogs Day 10: The Rainier Beer Motorcycle Commercial Day 9: Four-Leaf Clovers Day 8: Great Teachers We Still Remember Day 7: Finding the missing sock Day 6: Children’s books that teach life-long lessons Day 5: The Perfect Photo at the Perfect Moment Day 4: Jumping in Puddles Day 3: The Ride Downhill after the Struggle Uphill Day 2: Old Photographs Day 1: The Martians on Sesame Street
365 Reasons to Smile – Day 49
There are few things more amusing than remembering childhood crushes.
For example, I never missed an episode of the “Hardy Boys.” I actually thought Shaun Cassidy was the cute one.
But my very first crush was Johnny Whittaker. While most people probably remember him as Jody on Family Affair, I fell in love with him when he played Tom Sawyer in the Disney movie. I was incredibly jealous when he kissed Jodie Foster, who played Becky Thatcher.
I was so taken with him that every Saturday morning, I spent my limited television time watching Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.
My tastes may have changed significantly since those times, but my recognition of knowing what those tastes are hasn’t.
And that always makes me smile.
Day 49: Childhood Crushes Day 48: The Words “Miss You”
Day 47: Birthday Stories Day 46: Nature’s Hold on Us
Day 45: Play-Doh Day 44: First Day of School Pictures
Day 43: Calvin and Hobbes Day 42: Appreciative Readers
Day 41: : Marilyn Monroe’s Best Quote Day 40: Being Silly
Day 39: Being Happy Exactly Where You Are Day 38: Proud Grandparents
Day 37: Chocolate Chip Cookies Day 36: Challenging Experiences that Make Great Stories
Day 35: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Day 34: Accepting the Fog Day 33: I See the Moon
The Stonehenge Scene from This is Spinal Tap
Day 30: Unlikely Friendships Day 29: Good Samaritans
Day 28: Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet? Day 27: Shadows
Day 26: Bike Riding on Country Roads
Day 24: Hibiscus Day 23: The Ice Cream Truck
Day 22: The Wonderful World of Disney Day 21: Puppy love
Day 20 Personal Theme Songs Day 19: Summer Clouds
Day 18: Bartholomew Cubbin’s Victory Day 17: A Royal Birth Day 16: Creative Kids Day 15: The Scent of Honeysuckle Day 14: Clip of Kevin Kline Exploring His Masculinity Day 13: Random Text Messages from My Daughter Day 12: Round Bales of Hay Day 11: Water Fountains for Dogs Day 10: The Rainier Beer Motorcycle Commercial Day 9: Four-Leaf Clovers Day 8: Great Teachers We Still Remember Day 7: Finding the missing sock Day 6: Children’s books that teach life-long lessons Day 5: The Perfect Photo at the Perfect Moment Day 4: Jumping in Puddles Day 3: The Ride Downhill after the Struggle Uphill Day 2: Old Photographs Day 1: The Martians on Sesame Street
365 Reasons to Smile – Day 48
Simple words can make my day.
Whether someone says “We miss you” or “I miss you,” the effect is the same.
I immediately know that I have actually contributed something and have a place in the lives of other people.
And that always makes me smile.
Day 48: The words “miss you”
Day 47: Birthday Stories Day 46: Nature’s Hold on Us
Day 45: Play-Doh Day 44: First Day of School Pictures
Day 43: Calvin and Hobbes Day 42: Appreciative Readers
Day 41: Marilyn Monroe’s Best Quote Day 40: Being Silly
Day 39: Being Happy Exactly Where You Are Day 38: Proud Grandparents
Day 37: Chocolate Chip Cookies Day 36: Challenging Experiences that Make Great Stories
Day 35: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Day 34: Accepting the Fog Day 33: I See the Moon
Day 32: The Stonehenge Scene from This is Spinal Tap
Day 30: Unlikely Friendships Day 29: Good Samaritans
Day 28: Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet? Day 27: Shadows
Day 26: Bike Riding on Country Roads
Day 24: Hibiscus Day 23: The Ice Cream Truck
Day 22: The Wonderful World of Disney Day 21: Puppy love
Day 20 Personal Theme Songs Day 19: Summer Clouds
Day 18: Bartholomew Cubbin’s Victory Day 17: A Royal Birth Day 16: Creative Kids Day 15: The Scent of Honeysuckle Day 14: Clip of Kevin Kline Exploring His Masculinity Day 13: Random Text Messages from My Daughter Day 12: Round Bales of Hay Day 11: Water Fountains for Dogs Day 10: The Rainier Beer Motorcycle Commercial Day 9: Four-Leaf Clovers Day 8: Great Teachers We Still Remember Day 7: Finding the missing sock Day 6: Children’s books that teach life-long lessons Day 5: The Perfect Photo at the Perfect Moment Day 4: Jumping in Puddles Day 3: The Ride Downhill after the Struggle Uphill Day 2: Old Photographs Day 1: The Martians on Sesame Street
365 Reasons to Smile – Day 47
Twelve years ago today, my daughter was due to arrive in the world.
I was positive she wouldn’t.
No one in my family went into labor on time, and my son, who had been born nearly 3 1/2 years earlier, was induced.
I should have realized how different siblings can be.
My son is never in a hurry and takes his time doing anything.
My daughter is more precise, which is probably why she arrived on her due date.
But up to the last-minute, I was convinced she would be born a Virgo rather than a Leo.
My husband loves to tell the story about how I insisted on walking the dogs when my contractions were less than five minutes apart. I love to report my efficient use of the short the time between arriving at the hospital and holding Kendall in my arms.
Twelve years later, my husband and I love our opinionated daughter more than ever.
We also laugh at her first professional baby picture, which shows her attitude at an early age (as evidenced by a certain finger gesture).
And that always makes us smile.
Day 47: Birthday Stories Day 46: Nature’s Hold on Us
Day 45: Play-Doh Day 44: First Day of School Pictures
Day 43: Calvin and Hobbes Day 42: Appreciative Readers
Day 41: Marilyn Monroe’s Best Quote Day 40: Being Silly
Day 39: Being Happy Exactly Where You Are Day 38: Proud Grandparents
Day 37: Chocolate Chip Cookies Day 36: Challenging Experiences that Make Great Stories
Day 35: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Day 34: Accepting the Fog Day 33: I See the Moon
Day 32: The Stonehenge Scene from This is Spinal Tap
Day 30: Unlikely Friendships Day 29: Good Samaritans
Day 28: Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet? Day 27: Shadows
Day 26: Bike Riding on Country Roads
Day 24: Hibiscus Day 23: The Ice Cream Truck
Day 22: The Wonderful World of Disney Day 21: Puppy love
Day 20 Personal Theme Songs Day 19: Summer Clouds
Day 18: Bartholomew Cubbin’s Victory Day 17: A Royal Birth Day 16: Creative Kids Day 15: The Scent of Honeysuckle Day 14: Clip of Kevin Kline Exploring His Masculinity Day 13: Random Text Messages from My Daughter Day 12: Round Bales of Hay Day 11: Water Fountains for Dogs Day 10: The Rainier Beer Motorcycle Commercial Day 9: Four-Leaf Clovers Day 8: Great Teachers We Still Remember Day 7: Finding the missing sock Day 6: Children’s books that teach life-long lessons Day 5: The Perfect Photo at the Perfect Moment Day 4: Jumping in Puddles Day 3: The Ride Downhill after the Struggle Uphill Day 2: Old Photographs Day 1: The Martians on Sesame Street
365 Reasons to Smile – Day 46
The other day, my daughter and I were driving through Western Maryland just as the sun was setting.
I don’t generally watch the sunset, unless I’m at the beach.
But on this particular evening, the whole sky turned pink, and I couldn’t stop gushing.
I also couldn’t stop thinking about something my mother used to tell me.
“Red Sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red Sky in morning, sailors take warning.”
As my daughter grabbed my phone and tried to photograph the beauty, I knew she wouldn’t really capture it.
But her photo does remind me of how humans will never be able to capture the magnificence of nature.
And even when we try through ditties and poems, neither can we capture the power it holds over us.
But we CAN capture glimpses of both.
And that always makes me smile.
Day 46: Nature’s Hold on Us
Day 45: Play-Doh Day 44: First Day of School Pictures
Day 43: Calvin and Hobbes Day 42: Appreciative Readers
Day 41: Marilyn Monroe’s Best Quote Day 40: Being Silly
Day 39: Being Happy Exactly Where You Are Day 38: Proud Grandparents
Day 37: Chocolate Chip Cookies Day 36: Challenging Experiences that Make Great Stories
Day 35: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Day 34: Accepting the Fog Day 33: I See the Moon
Day 32: The Stonehenge Scene from This is Spinal Tap
Day 30: Unlikely Friendships Day 29: Good Samaritans
Day 28: Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet? Day 27: Shadows
Day 26: Bike Riding on Country Roads
Day 24: Hibiscus Day 23: The Ice Cream Truck
Day 22: The Wonderful World of Disney Day 21: Puppy love
Day 20 Personal Theme Songs Day 19: Summer Clouds
Day 18: Bartholomew Cubbin’s Victory Day 17: A Royal Birth Day 16: Creative Kids Day 15: The Scent of Honeysuckle Day 14: Clip of Kevin Kline Exploring His Masculinity Day 13: Random Text Messages from My Daughter Day 12: Round Bales of Hay Day 11: Water Fountains for Dogs Day 10: The Rainier Beer Motorcycle Commercial Day 9: Four-Leaf Clovers Day 8: Great Teachers We Still Remember Day 7: Finding the missing sock Day 6: Children’s books that teach life-long lessons Day 5: The Perfect Photo at the Perfect Moment Day 4: Jumping in Puddles Day 3: The Ride Downhill after the Struggle Uphill Day 2: Old Photographs Day 1: The Martians on Sesame Street
365 Reasons to Smile – Day 45
If my hands could do what my brain actually wants them to do, I’d be a phenomenal artist.
Unfortunately, most artistic ideas stay in my head because I have never been good at drawing or painting or sculpting.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy making things with my hands. I love sitting down with a group of kids and some jars of Play-Doh.
No one expects our creations to be perfect. We just want to enjoy the experience of creating.
And that always makes me smile.
Day 45: Play-Doh 44: First Day of School Pictures
Day 43: Calvin and Hobbes Day 42: Appreciative Readers
Day 41: Marilyn Monroe’s Best Quote Day 40: Being Silly
Day 39: Being Happy Exactly Where You Are Day 38: Proud Grandparents
Day 37: Chocolate Chip Cookies Day 36: Challenging Experiences that Make Great Stories
Day 35: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Day 34: Accepting the Fog Day 33: I See the Moon
Day 32: The Stonehenge Scene from This is Spinal Tap
Day 30: Unlikely Friendships Day 29: Good Samaritans
Day 28: Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet? Day 27: Shadows
Day 26: Bike Riding on Country Roads
Day 24: Hibiscus Day 23: The Ice Cream Truck
Day 22: The Wonderful World of Disney Day 21: Puppy love
Day 20 Personal Theme Songs Day 19: Summer Clouds
Day 18: Bartholomew Cubbin’s Victory Day 17: A Royal Birth Day 16: Creative Kids Day 15: The Scent of Honeysuckle Day 14: Clip of Kevin Kline Exploring His Masculinity Day 13: Random Text Messages from My Daughter Day 12: Round Bales of Hay Day 11: Water Fountains for Dogs Day 10: The Rainier Beer Motorcycle Commercial Day 9: Four-Leaf Clovers Day 8: Great Teachers We Still Remember Day 7: Finding the missing sock Day 6: Children’s books that teach life-long lessons Day 5: The Perfect Photo at the Perfect Moment Day 4: Jumping in Puddles Day 3: The Ride Downhill after the Struggle Uphill Day 2: Old Photographs Day 1: The Martians on Sesame Street
365 Reasons to Smile – Day 44
Today, like the first day of school when my son started kindergarten 11 years ago, will forever be preserved in photographs.
As my daughter begins seventh grade and my son begins tenth, they are well beyond being the excited children they once were.
But I, just like my mom, still insist on taking obligatory pictures. Maybe that’s because it’s one of the few times I get a picture of my two children together.
Or maybe it’s because I’m watching them grow up too quickly.
Or maybe it’s because I still enjoy the 
first day of school pictures from my own childhood.
For whatever reason, the taking first day of school photos is a family tradition that I’ve held onto.
And it always makes me smile.
Day 44: First Day of School Pictures
Day 43: Calvin and Hobbes Day 42: Appreciative Readers
Day 41: Marilyn Monroe’s Best Quote Day 40: Being Silly
Day 39: Being Happy Exactly Where You Are Day 38: Proud Grandparents
Day 37: Chocolate Chip Cookies Day 36: Challenging Experiences that Make Great Stories
Day 35: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Day 34: Accepting the Fog Day 33: I See the Moon
Day 32: The Stonehenge Scene from This is Spinal Tap
Day 30: Unlikely Friendships Day 29: Good Samaritans
Day 28: Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet? Day 27: Shadows
Day 26: Bike Riding on Country Roads
Day 24: Hibiscus Day 23: The Ice Cream Truck
Day 22: The Wonderful World of Disney Day 21: Puppy love
Day 20 Personal Theme Songs Day 19: Summer Clouds
Day 18: Bartholomew Cubbin’s Victory Day 17: A Royal Birth Day 16: Creative Kids Day 15: The Scent of Honeysuckle Day 14: Clip of Kevin Kline Exploring His Masculinity Day 13: Random Text Messages from My Daughter Day 12: Round Bales of Hay Day 11: Water Fountains for Dogs Day 10: The Rainier Beer Motorcycle Commercial Day 9: Four-Leaf Clovers Day 8: Great Teachers We Still Remember Day 7: Finding the missing sock Day 6: Children’s books that teach life-long lessons Day 5: The Perfect Photo at the Perfect Moment Day 4: Jumping in Puddles Day 3: The Ride Downhill after the Struggle Uphill Day 2: Old Photographs Day 1: The Martians on Sesame Street
365 Reasons to Smile – Day 43
My favorite comic strip of all times seems to be making a come back lately. Everywhere I go, I run into Calvin and Hobbes.
And I’m enjoying all those run-ins.
Even though Bill Watterson’s last syndicated strip in the series ran on December 31, 1995, the musings of Calvin and his stuffed tiger, Hobbes, are classic.
And classics always make me smile.
Day 43: Calvin and Hobbes Day 42: Appreciative Readers
Day 41: Marilyn Monroe’s Best Quote Day 40: Being Silly
Day 39: Being Happy Exactly Where You Are Day 38: Proud Grandparents
Day 37: Chocolate Chip Cookies Day 36: Challenging Experiences that Make Great Stories
Day 35: You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Day 34: Accepting the Fog Day 33: I See the Moon
Day 32: The Stonehenge Scene from This is Spinal Tap
Day 30: Unlikely Friendships Day 29: Good Samaritans
Day 28: Am I a Man or Am I a Muppet? Day 27: Shadows
Day 26: Bike Riding on Country Roads
Day 24: Hibiscus Day 23: The Ice Cream Truck
Day 22: The Wonderful World of Disney Day 21: Puppy love
Day 20 Personal Theme Songs Day 19: Summer Clouds
Day 18: Bartholomew Cubbin’s Victory Day 17: A Royal Birth Day 16: Creative Kids Day 15: The Scent of Honeysuckle Day 14: Clip of Kevin Kline Exploring His Masculinity Day 13: Random Text Messages from My Daughter Day 12: Round Bales of Hay Day 11: Water Fountains for Dogs Day 10: The Rainier Beer Motorcycle Commercial Day 9: Four-Leaf Clovers Day 8: Great Teachers We Still Remember Day 7: Finding the missing sock Day 6: Children’s books that teach life-long lessons Day 5: The Perfect Photo at the Perfect Moment Day 4: Jumping in Puddles Day 3: The Ride Downhill after the Struggle Uphill Day 2: Old Photographs Day 1: The Martians on Sesame Street
Just So You Know 