There’s a nutty little song by the late Ian Dury (& his Blockheads) called “Reasons to be Cheerful” that’s basically a list of the smaller things that, when you think of them, might encourage you to get out of bed in the morning.
I thought it might be appropriate for me to make my own list, since as of today, we’ve been married for six years, and I’m in a good mood, & feeling grateful for a bunch of things in my life.
- Aurora, sweet as pie, trying to con me out of a piece of cheese when I go to get the milk for my tea
- Songs like “Reasons to be Cheerful” but also “Birds Fly” by Icicle Works, or “Right Here, Right Now” by Jesus Jones, or “Hot Love” by T. Rex = worth endless listens that always make me happy
- The Bangladeshi guy who runs the grocery on our corner who’s probably been hipper about Betty’s transness than just about anyone
- Watching my friend Doug watch Rufus in concert
- Getting emails from people I can help
- My dad’s dumb jokes
- Keith Olbermann
- Dumb cat videos on YouTube
- Betty, of course, in all her various forms, but especially when she’s just wearing socks
- The Elephant Sanctuary (who prove something good can & does exist in the world)
- ice cream
- the French (who are, in general, vastly under-appreciated in America at least)
- my earth shoes
- tea. earl gray. hot.
- & on the same note: Clive Staples Lewis, Neil Gaiman, Jane Langton, & Rod Serling, for telling the tales that have shaped my life. (There are a few others, but you get the picture.)
So now, go make a list of just a few things that make you happy while you’re listening to these songs that always lighten my mood.
