Choosing happy

With Isaac having taken his time to depart our region, then returning as a remnant of heavy rains followed by another Isaac leftover threatening to become Isaac Jr., I have been so aggravated with recent wind, rain, heat and humidity that I have fallen into grumbling about other things, too. 

Last night and today I have been reminding myself of some recent things I have enjoyed. I’ve got to do something before I turn into a scary harpy.

Fledgling paleontologists

Happy #1. Daughter-in-law Katie’s blog The Daily Skup. Katie’s chronicle of the lives of our Louisiana grandchildren has been delighting me with photos and stories of what they are doing and how they are maturing. Her posts are slices of daily life that have brightened some gloomy days.

The photo above was a “dinosaur” birthday party.  Grandchildren Molly Kate and Walker, center, celebrated with cousins from Katie’s family, Beau, left, and birthday boy Braedon, right. Katie had posted the image as a header photo some while back with no explanation of the event that had the four donning pith helmets.

Katie is organized, consistent and thorough about documenting childhood events on her blog. I was confident that text and even more photos would eventually appear. I was not disappointed. While I waited I enjoyed her accounts of haircuts, traffic jams, dentist visits, a “real” tea party, first day of preschool and more. Katie is a prolific blogger.

Thank you, Katie.

Happy #2. Long-distance conversations. Son Walt and daughter-in-law Sarah have supplied welcomed reports along with some funny stories about our four Georgia grands. A plus is that the reports also come with a glimpse of what son and daughter-in-law are up to lately.

Thank you, Walt and Sarah.

Push that left elbow straight!

Happy #3. Movement. Getting back to walking with friends and resuming therapy. Since my stroke, when I am able to increase my mastery of some basic daily living chore at home it makes me feel great. But walking with friends and engaging in challenging and exhausting therapy sessions provide a special sense of satisfaction and exhilaration that keeps me positive and working to push past my current limitations.

Thank you, friends Ann and Pat and Ocean Springs Nero Rehab therapists and techs.

A movie that leaves me smiling and singing. (TCM Photo)

Happy #4. Hubby Walter surprised me with tickets to a one-night special showing of the musical Singing in the Rain, released in 1952 and starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. I was only five in 1952 and my parents rarely went to movies, although I do remember seeing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Snow White, Cinderella and Bambi in theaters. But I had only seen Singing in the Rain on TV, never before on a big screen.

The Turner Classic Movies (TCM) showing in theaters across the U.S. was a celebration of the 60^th anniversary of the movie’s release. We saw it at a theater in a nearby city in August. TCM produced an intro that preceded the movie. It featured interviews that TCM host Robert Osborne had conducted with Reynolds and others that gave an inside view of how memorable scenes came to life and how working relationships evolved among Kelly, O’Connor and the newcomer Debbie Reynolds. Hubby’s surprise keeps giving me pleasure as I think about that simple evening out.

Thank you Hubby and Turner Classic Movies.

Salad by my personal chef

Happy #5. Hubby’s diet. Husband Walter is determined to lose down to his “cruising”* weight and has accordingly started counting calories. That is good news for me.

I want him to be as healthy as possible. But when he gets serious about diet, it also means more salads on our menu, slimmed-down portions, low-fat menu choices and fewer meals out, all practices that help me keep salt consumption under control. I especially love salads and dress mine with vinegar and a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil. Green onions, black pepper and red pepper substitute for salt. My no-salt salads are a happy choice and help keep my daily sodium consumption within the 1,500 mg limit.

Thank you Hubby.

*Since cruises are synonymous with overeating for both of us, our cruising weight is what we need to weigh so that when we return home, we will weigh in without breaking our scales. We learned from past cruises that we gain at least five to eight pounds. We are going on a trip to the West Coast rather than a cruise next month, but we realistically expect “vacation eating” to occur. I know. We are pitiful.

Happy #6. Cooler temperatures. Mornings were in the 60-degree range yesterday and today. Here’s hoping lower humidity and cool will stick around for awhile.

Have a great week.