small Joys.. it really is the little things

[ragtopW]

OK so it looks like I will be moving soon..
the other side of Down town (it will save 7 minutes of a 22 minute drive)

I just kind of realized.. I will not miss the games drivers play
"run the red light" or the Dodge the Transit busses that OWN
the road.. or the watch out for the Bike riders that run the stop signs
or the Abby Road like stroll that the St. Lukes workers make in
the crosswalk..


but you know what?? I will miss seeing the Downtown wake up every morning.. The sidewalks getting cleaned.. the flowers and trees watered, the Folks heading into get coffee.. no matter how
many times I see it, OR in what City I am in.. I do love that
sight..

how about it??? what is your little bit of joy.. something
you love to witness.. smells?? sights?? sounds??
let's have it..

[bravedave]

Yes, my brother. I know what you mean.

One of the most memorable summer jobs I had was in a park, with a lake. Each September my job would come to an end, and the Canada geese would fly in to settle for the winter. I knew my term was ending because of those geese, the early sunsets, and the smokey fog rolling over the water at day's end. We would say goodbye to each other. And pack up to head back to school, or wherever the winter would take us.

I was truly sad to revisit that pond after my "real life" took me to new employment. I kinda wish I was still a park ranger, on a boat, in a lake.

[Lightning Bolt]

A great thread, Santa

I can just hear the fireworks that are set off each night some 15 miles away down by SeaWorld on Mission Bay
any night at 9:50 pm. Nothing real special, but as summer winds down now, I kinda try to be around to hear them.
They wrap up at Labor Day, and the night's are still warm, but you can feel the season's change around the town,
as the tourists head out, the kids go back to school, and another summer is "closed".

Slightly sad, ...but at least football will soon follow!

[FINSUPinIdaho]

You live on MT Helix, LB? I lived on Beaumont and went to Murdock Elementary. My cousin still lives on Mt Helix Drive, towards the top...
I miss SD, but don't miss the crowds...

[GARNETBIMBO & BIG DAD]

Being a Bay Area (Santa Cruz) girl....
I miss the fog as it rolls out in the early morning sunshine..The perfect time to grab your board and head down to the beach for a full day of waves...morning waves rule..quiet beauty

[cedarkey]

For me it is the sound of children laughing...

[citcat]

I like my privacy fence. Surrounding my pool/tiki bar area. I would consider moving for MORE privacy, like further out in the country. But I'd miss the neighborhood dogs....they love us (probably only because we give them treats). They ARE happy to see us and know our car....it's so funny to see all of them follow us down the road !

[East Texas Parrothead]

I like driving to and from work. It's about 23 miles, but it's all country. I love watching the seasons change.

I also love the smell of the pressroom. My grandfather was the pressroom foreman at the Dallas Morning News, so I was there a lot ... and his clothes always smelled of ink. When I go to the pressroom here at the newspaper, my eyes leak. I miss my Paw-Paw every day.

And, Santa Wayne ... I love your smile - and you, too. To the moon and back.

[tikitatas]

Like the saying goes, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away."

So I think of things like:

our little grand niece, Amelia, who was born June 1st

washing and peeling vegetables to make your partner's favourite meal

my kid's voice, even though my "kid" is 27

feeding the cats and dogs every morning as they twine around my legs

tides going in and out (I live where the rise and fall is the highest in the world!)

new blooms on my begonias

driving for miles with Julie in comfortable silence . . .

[ph4ever]

Wow – what a great subject.

I have a love/hate releationship where I live now. I’m not going to dwell on the negative but the positive.

• Colorful fall foliage – nothing like I’ve seen in Texas
• Green – both my son and I said the same thing when first arriving in Seattle “It’s so f’ing green” but green isn’t the only color as there are so many beautiful flowers up here, the likes of which I had never seen before I moved here.
• The Mountain – Mt Rainier it’s pretty damn cool to see a snow capped mountain in the summer months (or what they consider summer here)
• Whales – Orcas are freaking awesome!!!!
• Starfish – never saw one “in the wild” until I visited the Oregon coast.



What I miss about Texas (and somewhat took for granted)

• Cicadas singing in the summer and the cricket mating season
• Seesaw winters – 70 one day and then 20 a few days later (only the strong survive)
• That hot blast of heat when you leave an air conditioned building in the summer
• Beaches with warm water so you can swim
• Sunsets and sunrises that are the best in the world
• Pecans - those things are damn expensive when you have to buy them.
• Summer – REAL summer, not just a day or two but MONTHS of being able to go swimming, boating, tubing etc
• HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL – it’s seriously a religion in Texas.
• Southern hospitality
• Cheep gas/food/housing
• My son and family of friends
• Good Tex/Mex
• Texas Pride – not that cheep beer but rather the pride a person takes at being a Texan

[pbans]

Hummingbirds jousting at the feeder

My dogs catching a tennis ball on the fly

The right song popping up on the ipod at just the right time

Garden tomatoes....and apricots....and cucumbers....and just about anything this time of year that's grown in someone's backyard!

My dog nudging his nose under the back of my arm so he can get closer to me.......and how he always knows just the right time to do that.

My daughter asking if she can sleep in my bed because she's a little sad, or scared......she'll be 18 in two weeks....

Fresh strawberry milkshakes

good tequila

[pair8head]

Doesn't happen near enough but I love
seeing the A$$hat that cuts me off in traffic
being pulled over by the law a mile or two up the road.

[ScarletB]

Creemees in summer - no one can tell me exactly whats IN them but yummmm

The way the air smells as you get closer to the ocean but before you can see it.

The view on my way to work of a farm with the valley and Green Mountains beyond it - in any season.

My kitty Max "talking" to me when I get home from work.

Having a new book arrive from Amazon (or Lulu's Jack)

Coming home from work on any Friday afternoon!

Sitting in peace and quiet on my deck with a glass of wine.

[sunseeker]

When I was going through the divorce, I lived with my mom for about 6 months. It was an hour commute each day to work. each morning I drove east and got to see the sunrise and in the evenings I would drive west and would see the sunsets. Each day was more beautiful than the last. And during those quiet moments by myself, I began to heal and find peace with the hand life had dealt me. I don't think I would have had it any other way. To this day, I will never look at a sunrise or sunset and take it for granted....for it was because of them that I found myself again....

[dnw]

This is a great thread. Thanks, Santa, for starting the topic.

[LIPH]

tourists standing on the sidewalk staring up at the tall buildings

tourists standing on the corner actually waiting for the light to turn green, with an amazed look on their faces as the rest of us cross on the red

tourists cheering when Al Roker comes outside during the Today Show as if he was a rock star

tourists who are obviously unfamiliar with the concept of a revolving door (hint: you have to get out or you just keep going around in circles)

tourists who ask "Do you know how to get to (fill in the blank)?" then look unhappy when I say "Yes" and keep walking

[ScarletB]

tourists standing on the sidewalk staring up at the tall buildings

tourists standing on the corner actually waiting for the light to turn green, with an amazed look on their faces as the rest of us cross on the red

tourists cheering when Al Roker comes outside during the Today Show as if he was a rock star

tourists who are obviously unfamiliar with the concept of a revolving door (hint: you have to get out or you just keep going around in circles)

tourists who ask "Do you know how to get to (fill in the blank)?" then look unhappy when I say "Yes" and keep walking

Oh you're not that mean, I bet you tell them!!!
Though we actually had some tourists here stop someone to ask what time the moose cross at the "Moose Crossing" sign!

[LIPH]

Two years ago when midtown Manhattan was packed with tourists coming to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, I made the mistake of going out for a walk instead of having lunch. It took about 5 minutes to go one block. On the way back to the office, just as slow as the outbound trip, some guy asked me if I knew how to get to Central Park. I said "Yes" and continued my trip back to the office.

[dnw]

Two years ago when midtown Manhattan was packed with tourists coming to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, I made the mistake of going out for a walk instead of having lunch. It took about 5 minutes to go one block. On the way back to the office, just as slow as the outbound trip, some guy asked me if I knew how to get to Central Park. I said "Yes" and continued my trip back to the office.

Could have been me a couple of years ago! But, I'm not a guy.

[tikitatas]

Two years ago when midtown Manhattan was packed with tourists coming to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, I made the mistake of going out for a walk instead of having lunch. It took about 5 minutes to go one block. On the way back to the office, just as slow as the outbound trip, some guy asked me if I knew how to get to Central Park. I said "Yes" and continued my trip back to the office.

You're an ass.