My Favorite Things

Now, I don't mean to go all Julie Andrews on you, but I've been thinking a lot about "My Favorite Things" today.  They have "The Sound of Music" on sale at Costco (for those that care) and apparently my brain honed in on that as I wheeled by for the third time this week and now refuses to give it up. 

I had a similar experience with ABBA songs after seeing "Mamma Mia" on Broadway a couple of years ago.  I even put some of the songs on my iPod.  Nothing like having it on "shuffle songs" and hearing Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" one minute and ABBA's "Fernando" the next.  Like a musical schizophrenia that truly isn't healthy.  Not for me anyway.

Anyway, I've been stuck for subjects to write about and was given a lot of great ideas (thank you to those who participated) to ponder.  I promise to at least attempt to tackle each of them in due time.  Some of them require me to be in a happier frame of mind (ie. the subject of Obama) than I am currently experiencing.  But I have faith that I'll get there soon.

The first step I took was to declare "Happy Thoughts Tuesday" because it was either that or "Totally Sucks Tuesday" - which I had unfortunately experienced the previous week.  I found that this focus on what was going right in the world made a lot more sense than whining about life as I know it or sitting around wound licking, pouting, or feeling bad.  "Happy Thoughts Tuesday" reminded me that I have some really kind friends who told me some really neat things to focus on instead of everything I'd already pondered to death. 

There are so many I hardly know where to begin.  But here's my version...cue the music in your head...and don't hate me when you are still humming this song next week and cursing me silently.

To "My Favorite Things" as sung by Maria (who ended up as a Playboy centerfold, sadly)

Raindrops at night so my hair doesn't frizz out...
Clean cars and chocolate and music that's played loud
All non-bill items that Mr. Mailman brings...
These are a few of my favorite things...

Cream colored dog and a little brown one too
Chores and clean laundry I didn't have to do
The occasional burger from Hamburger King...
These are a few of my favorite things...

Jill when she's sweet because she wants to go shopping
And Brian gets a haircut so his Xbox isn't stopping
Cool weather that lasts from November to Spring...
These are a few of my favorite things...

When the dog bites...a deliveryman
And I'm mortified
I'm simply relieved I can locate the proof (of his shots)
And glad that we won't be sued...

Good hair and weight loss and dinner with friends
Movies and free stuff and scrapbooking weekends
Most of the songs that the Foo Fighters sing (I can do without Darling Nikki)...
These are a few of my favorite things...

Days with no drama and no need to whine
When all is well and when everyone's fine
When I'm excited about what the next day will bring...
These are a few of my favorite things...

Sales at the Publix and samples at Costco
Good things that happen to people I know
Friends I don't see much but mean everything...
These are a few of my favorite things...

So, try it.  Think about your favorite things.  I couldn't fit having great relatives, short workweeks, clean sheets, unexpected checks, Alabama football games, Trinity Presbyterian School (less the tuition payments), Christmas, new babies, and days without hot flashes in there, but they are close to the top as well.

My list is my list much as Maria's was hers.  Sadly, I'm allergic to cats (although I own one), I have little use for woolen mittens (although I would have killed for them in New York in December 2008), and nobody wraps up anything for me in brown paper packages (most gifts are traditionally handed to me in a WalMart bag).  Plus, I'm not exactly sure what schnitzel is (sounds like something my shih tzus leave when they are put out with me). 

The beauty is...what makes me happy may make you wince.  What makes you happy may make me shrug.  And that's really okay.  What I've noticed, though, is that the song is true.  Thinking about my favorite things really has made me feel better.  Hope it works for you as well. 

Now, if I can just get this song out of my head before I lose my mind.  Here's hoping.