my careless contagion

This list could literally go on for days. But here's part two of the many things that make me smile! Memes. Duh. They're funny. Except for the ones that aren't. Those are dumb. Neil Diamond. He must have been on the radio at a lot when I was in the womb; that's my theory — I must have thought he was my dad or something. I just love the man and all of his music (except his Christmas album; he's a Jew, for golly's sake). I saw him perform live once, actually, in Columbus, Ohio. He had a really bad cold or something so he sounded like a monster. Not even kidding. The venue had to refund a lot of tickets. I loved it anyway.  John Denver. I may as well just say, "a lot of musicians like Neil Diamond and John Denver; you know, from that era." Throw Jim Croce in there. I melt every time Stevie Wonder gets airplay. I love so much of that old music. Can you tell I was born in the '70s? In fact ... The 1970s. I love this decade. I love the ha...

Keanu can make anyone smile. He's the internet's boyfriend. I've spent so much time nailing down problems in my life, trying to understand them, trying to move through very hard situations, that I've become very tired of that process. Writing about all of that usually comes at the end of that process, so by that time, I'm really tired of it. So, let's talk about something else.  I read recently that men are more emotionally closer to their dogs than people. Truly, a dog is a man's best friend. I have thought a lot lately about getting a dog, but my life may change again, and soon, so I don't want to bring an animal into an unstable environment. Dogs are creatures of habit, and they get stressed out when things change a lot. Hey, I get it. I'm that way too.  So, maybe I can't have a dog right now. But, what else can put a smile on my face? What brightens my day? Be it big or be it small, there are many things that put me in a better mood....

Today is her birthday.  I wish I was there to pull back the covers from her sleepy head and kiss her tired cheeks and neck good morning. I'd whisper a "happy birthday" before the day even began.  It makes me smile to think of her enjoying her birthday, surrounded by her kids, maybe a family visit or well-wishes, too. And lots of friends wishing her a happy day.  It's Sunday, so I hope she sleeps in. I'd love to sleep in with her and wake to a lazy day full of stuff like a late breakfast, some sports on tv, maybe a brisk walk around the neighborhood or to the park and a hurry-home jaunt home to brace ourselves from the cold with hot chocolate.  I'd love to hold her on the couch with me, sit her on my lap, enjoy her lazy-day-crazy hair and just be.  All of this could have been. S he could have been mine. Our children could cuddle with us, piled on haphazardly in perfect unity, love, and devotion. My heart races when I think of us like that. My m...

I remember her and her smile it was so weak and she was so sick She was beautiful in dresses, jeans jacket, underwear or nothing at all And those eyes they lit up my world that perfect smile could captivate me forever I couldn't get enough she was all mine for just a moment but what a moment it was Wrapping my arms around her for the last time I hoped against all hope I would see her again I'd take reality over fantasy any day if she could just be mine I let her go but I'll remember her one last smile.