1.) There may be nothing more terrifying than finding a latex unicorn mask dangling from the end of your flag pole. Yet this unexpected gift has brought oodles of magic and joy to our household. Cheers to our thoughtful neighbors! (You know who you are.)
2.) Puppies aren't the same as babies, but they are still baby animals. While they’re adorable, they also keep you up at night, put everything in their mouths, and urinate and defecate on your floor (sometimes peering over their haunches at you with something resembling a smile).
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| Totes adorbs. |
3.) Elegant twinkling lights. Gaudy decorations. Snow on Christmas. No snow in April. Holiday gatherings with friends and family. A few precious moments alone locked in a bathroom with boozy eggnog (I may be coming around a smidgeon on eggnog). Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Almonds you burnt in the oven for the damn appetizer you were supposed to bring to your in-laws.
4.) A minor stomach bug before (not during) Christmas. Fingers crossed.
5.) Broken pinky fingers on young children heal quickly. They also stink (literally [I dare you to smell your kid’s hand after three weeks of snug enclosure within a cast] and metaphorically [no swimming for three weeks]).
6.) YouTube videos of kids opening presents, eating food or making slime. Dolls or stuffed animals hidden inside glitter, gelatinous substances, bath bombs and various sizes of plastic orbs. I don’t get it, but recognize I’ll be sad when my daughter a.) moves on to INSERT “MATURE” ALTERNATIVES and b.) stops caring whether I get it.
7.) I love running outdoors when it gets cold outside. My 46-year-old body doesn’t love running outdoors when it gets cold outside. #oldladyrunning
8.) Speaking of cold outside, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”: Okay, I get it, antiquated, creepy, sexist—a pretty meh song on the whole—but where does one draw the line on music, art and book banning? Then again, I have vowed to never eat at Chick-Fil-A(ssholes) and it isn’t like McDonald’s is a Champion of Ethics.
9.) Pizza.
10.) I’ve nothing against Pearl Jam. In fact, I have great nostalgia for the album Ten. But an entire channel on Sirius XM dedicated to this band? Tom Petty, yes. Pearl Jam, no. Bruce Springsteen, yes. Pearl Jam, no.
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| Eek! How did this get here?!! |
11.) I belong to a book club where we meet regularly and talk about books we’re reading, podcasts we’re listening to and shows we’re watching—sprinkled heavily with things you probably shouldn’t discuss in most group settings: politics, religion, murder plots, raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. Plus, some of us drink alcoholic beverages and all of us eat hot dips. The point is, we don’t demand everyone read the same book and then come together with salient and succinct observations about said book. Did I mention we eat hot dips? (Sorry, we’re currently not recruiting additional members.)
12.) If you resolve to achieve a single thing in 2019, make it leaving one space after a period. Because giving up carbs is overrated.
13.) Poems. Love songs. Your kid’s first or six-millionth words. Tacos on a Wednesday (Tuesdays are for suckers). Losing someone monumental in your life. Gaining an amazing new friend. Sunsets. Sunrises. The ocean. Lake Michigan. That one Parks and Rec episode where Ron goes to Scotland. It’s a Wonderful Life. Love Actually. Bambi. A news story about anything, negative or anywhere in the hemisphere of positive. Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed or stubborn or strong. Let whatever moves you move you to tears.
14.) I’m thankful for you, even those of you who’ll never read this or think it’s stupid or would prefer a traditional holiday card with a family photo of us all wearing navy shirts and khakis.
15.) David Sedaris’ Calypso. I think it’s his best in a while, but maybe it’s just my current frame of mind or stage in life. Either way, it doesn’t matter. I will always carry the Sea Section in my heart. #props
16.) Not everyone will love or like or give shit about what you do. If you love or like or give a shit about what you do, keep doing it anyway.
17.) This year I celebrated 20 years of marriage. I’ve been with my husband for the majority of my adult life. I wouldn’t have it any other way or trade what we have and are to each other for all the tea in China or all the pizza in my past, present and future. That said, you can groan when people say marriage is work or “a work in progress,” but they aren’t wrong. If you’re unwilling to bend, odds are you’ll break.
18.) Robert Mueller: How much longer must we wait to Make America Great Again?
19.) and 20.) The hope of another year.
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| Isn't she magical? |
Xoxo,
Amie
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