Category: whimsy

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.

1. Aurora, sweet as pie, trying to con me out of a piece of cheese when I go to get the milk for my tea
2. 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
3. The Bangladeshi guy who runs the grocery on our corner who’s probably been hipper about Betty’s transness than just about anyone
4. Watching my friend Doug watch Rufus in concert
5. Getting emails from people I can help
6. My dad’s dumb jokes
7. Keith Olbermann
8. Dumb cat videos on YouTube
9. Betty, of course, in all her various forms, but especially when she’s just wearing socks
10. The Elephant Sanctuary (who prove something good can & does exist in the world)
11. ice cream
12. the French (who are, in general, vastly under-appreciated in America at least)
13. my earth shoes
14. tea. earl gray. hot.
15. & 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. Continue reading “Reasons to be Cheerful, Pt. 6”