Things That Make Me Smile

A couple of days ago it was Friday and the end of what was a long week of work.  So much done, so much to think about, so much yet to do.  Next week will surely be not much different, possibly even worse.  But it's all good -- I'm not complaining.  I'm enjoying it.

Friday has turned into "beer train Friday," which, as its name suggests, involves drinking a beer on the long train trek home.  Usually, it's just a friend and I; every once in awhile another friend joins us.  Once, it was just I.  And every time, unless they're sold out, my choice of beer is the Two Brothers Wobble IPA.

Halfway through my beer during Friday's ride home and while talking with my friend, I felt happy.  I don't know exactly why, maybe it was the IPA, maybe it was the good end to the workday that I had, maybe I was overtired and delirious.  Whatever it was, it was the inspiration for this post -- a list of things that make me happy.

1. Drinking IPAs.  This has been my beer of choice for awhile now and lately has been the only type I drink.  Except for the Rebel IPA, I haven't had an IPA that I haven't liked.  I don't know if it's bad that I don't drink a variety of beers, but I don't care because IPAs make me happy.
2. Ella, reaching the end of the lane at swimming.  I watch her "make pizzas," kick, flip to breathe, crawl and dolphin kick her way from one end of her swimming lane to another, and I do enjoy witnessing that.  The best part of her trip down the lane, though, is when she reaches the end.  She goes under for a bit, explodes out of the water and smiles a toothless smile so big that you know that she is having so much fun.  That she's having fun and showing it makes me happy.
3. Dan getting a well-deserved raise. That Dan recently got a good raise was entirely his doing.  He works hard and sensibly and is productive.  His customers, both internal and external, appreciate the care and attention that he gives their accounts.  He takes on additional responsibilities above and beyond what is expected of his role. If his work ethic and product don't say enough, Dan also verbally regularly reminds his management of how valuable he is to their organization.  They hear him and have no choice but to reward him.  I am proud of him for this, and this makes me happy.
4. Talking with Cal about Michael Jordan.  I never pass on an opportunity to tell Cal that Michael Jordan is the best basketball player EVER.  I believe it, and I want Cal to know how good Jordan was.  Just yesterday, I reminded him of this.  I told him, "Michael Jordan was better than LeBron James.  He was better than Steph Curry... well, not as good a shooter as Curry but better all around."  Cal then asked me if he was better than "that guy who scored 100 points in a game," and I responded, "Wilt Chamberlain?  Yes, Jordan was better than Wilt Chamberlain."  As I talked with Cal about Jordan, I got excited tears in my eyes.  I was happy.
5. A run to the United Center at lunch.  Every once in awhile, I am able to escape work at lunchtime and go for a run to the United Center and back -- two miles there, two miles back.  It's a perfect distance with good distractions (including a statue of the aforementioned thing that makes me happy).  It really is an escape, and I always feel better having done it.  This run makes me happy.
6. The Leatherkids' artwork.  Not that I like the sheer volume of this (I get anxious

   

   One of my favorites of Cal's

   just thinking about it), but so much about the Leatherkids' artwork they bring home everyday makes me smile. Sometimes, I think it's brilliant, and it lands in a frame; other times it touches my heart, like when Ella writes "Mommy" somewhere on it.  I love that she thinks of me during the day when we are apart.  This makes me happy.
7. A full moon on a clear night.  Sometimes when I know it's a clear night and when everyone but I (is that right, Dad?) is asleep in the house, I step out onto the deck and look up at the moon. (I also do this on my walk back from the end of the driveway after taking the garbage out, which doesn't sound as glamorous.)  If I'm lucky, it's full.  It's dark outside.  It's quiet.  The air is especially refreshing.  The contrast of the moon's light against the dark sky is striking.  I take it all in and smile.  And then I think about the millions of people who could witness the moon at the same time if they chose to and wonder who actually is.  All I do know at that moment is I am, and what I'm witnessing makes me happy.
8. The Leatherkids, fast asleep.  They are not talking or talking back.  They are not making noises with their mouths or their bodies.  They are not wiping their mouths with their shirts or or just not sitting still.  They are still.  Perfectly still.  I watch them breathe for a few seconds and then look over their entire bodies.  I marvel in their existence.  I made them.  I kiss them and smile, a sure sign of happiness.
9. The Leatherkids getting along..  They may push each other's buttons and yell at each other.  They may push, kick or hit each other.  They may each shed tears over the other's doing.  And they may say that they "hate" one another.  But that's just part of being siblings.  I know that because I regularly witness the two of them interacting and laughing, playing off of one another, genuine joy expressed by their eyes which are looking at each other.  I love this.  They are friends, and they do love each other.  This makes me happy.
10. An unexpected compliment and show of appreciation from a co-worker.  To be honest, I work hard at my job for myself and sometimes for my co-workers who I also know are working hard toward the same goal.  If I don't think I'm doing a good job, I am not happy with myself, even if others think I'm doing just fine.  I don't seek or need praise from co-workers or managers.  But I tell you what: when, out of the blue and without a clear trigger, my co-worker tells a room full of people how much she appreciates the work that I've been doing and how helpful it's been to her team, I feel pretty darn good.  This happened on Friday, and I'm still smiling about it.  This made me happy.
11. Sunset behind the Chicago skyline.  I love this City and its skyline.  I can look at it

    

    Sunset behind the Chicago skyline

    and know what's going on between the buildings, having lived there for many years and worked there for even longer.  It's familiar.  It's alive.  It's beautiful.  It's now a far trek, but I love that I get to go there every workday to feel, share and witness it.  What a fantastic symbol of the City, made even more fantastic by a sunset.  This makes me happy.

So this isn't an exhaustive list of things that make me happy, just ones that came to mind during the timeboxed window I gave myself before starting to write.  I wanted ten but did eleven because I like odd numbers.  And I am happy just having written about these.