Tough Times, Tougher Hearts

I was really happy to have seen this article a few days ago - even though we are apparently about to hit our toughest economic situation in eleventy billion years (according to some :), charitable giving continues to grow. It made me smile even more that the article indicates that charitable giving is basically recession-proof. It has increased in 39 of the last 40 years. It's really easy to look at some events and think that we're turning into a country of grinches. But while there will always be some full of ill will or disinterest, I am happy to be among friends who are always participating in activities that help others (Go Betsy!) So this holiday season, I have been making an effort to donate some money and some time to a few different charities. A few of my favorites:

• The Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation - this organization has events throughout Northern Virginia every weekend to offer it's really remarkable animals for adoption. Until they find their homes, the animals are kept at the foundation's ranch. Their restaurants in Arlington offer great food and t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc.
• St Jude's Children's Research Hospital - If there's anything in life that doesn't make sense, it's kids and their families dealing with cancer. Luckily, there's a place like St. Jude's that works simply to make their journey more bearable. They ALSO have a gift catalog with holiday and other goods that help support their cause.
• Heifer International - This goes back to the old adage "Give a man a fish..." This organization provides communities with animals that allow them to grow sustainably. For example, a flock of geese provide communities with eggs for food or for sale. The children in the community can then go to school, providing the human resources to lift everyone up.

The great part about giving is that it gives back - hence the happiness of my day today!

The Rainbow Connection

I am kind of a fan of the rainy, windy weekend day, especially when my plans all revolve around my couch. Yesterday was that kind of a day here, which was great until it was time to leave the house. Luckily for me, I was not the assigned driver of the day, which probably would have ruined the "comforting rainy day for me," but also as we were driving, we saw a double rainbow! I really thought that a double rainbow had some kind of "symbolic meaning," but I really found no reference to that on the all-knowing internets. I learned a bit about the science behind rainbows, including multiples, wherein the light rays tend to "bounce around" inside the raindrops, creating larger numbers of rainbows. And learning is always pretty cool. Also pretty cool is that an ice cream manufacturer (high happiness factor!) in San Francisco adopted the name as its own. As an homage to the rainbow, I include the following, a movie moment that never fails to put a smile on my face.

The Glory of the Game

One simple thing that made me happy today was a conversation I had at work (thanks Chris!) about sports nostalgia. It's been a long time since I have been what anyone would consider knowledgeable about any particular sport. After I hit 13, there were so many other things to keep track of (hair, makeup, shoes, etc - a girl's life is complicated). But today, I got to thinking about how many sports instances or even general sports-y things really make me smile. I grew up near Detroit, so bear with me as many of these things will be either Michigan-centric or hockey-centric. :)

• Alright, so I know I was three when it happened, but the legacy of the 1980 Miracle on Ice is always the first thing that comes to my mind when I talk about meaningful sporting events. Not only was this a monumental moment in sports history, but it was a source of national pride at a time when the U.S. needed something specific to be proud of. It also serves as an example of how, to quote coach Herb Brooks in the Disney depiction of this historic season, "great moments are born from great opportunity."

• On October 14, 1984 the Detroit Tigers won the World Series by defeating the San Diego Padres in front of their home fans. I was too young to remember specifics, but I remember the way that whole season felt listening to Ernie Harwell broadcast the games on the AM station or hearing "Bless You Boys," the song created from the team catch-phrase that year. I remember the gathering of people at our house for the final game, with people in kitchen, dining room, and folding chairs gripped with excitement and finally relief when all of our favorites - Kirk Gibson, Jack Morris, Darrell Evans, Lou Whitaker, and Alan Trammell - rushed the field at the conclusion of their remarkable season. Detroit is a city that often lacks a foundation on which to build its pride and happiness. This is one of the best examples that I can remember.
  
  
• I have never been a huge football fan. If I am honest about it, it always seems like there's so much going on that I can't keep track of where the ball is and what is actually going on. But when I was in college at Michigan State (Go Green!!), I managed to make it to a handful of fall football games. I loved the late-fall games where it was just almost, but not quite winter. We all wore layers and gloves and the cold bleachers made our butts numb through our jeans. Luckily, the seats are notably small, so we were able to benefit from the body warmth that a collective mass generates. Most of the students stood for a lot of the game and about 20 times every game, someone in the student section would yell out ROW!!. At this point, everyone in ear shot would sit as fast as possible, grab the shoulders of the person in front of them, and move back and forth in a rowing motion. It seems really stupid, but I just remember laughing uncontrollably every time.
  
  
• Old pictures of athletes and their uniforms. Is there anything cooler than a classic, heavy-duty hockey jersey from one of the original six teams? How about a picture of baseball players in the 1940s and 50s with their baggy, nameless jerseys and determined eyes (see David Halberstam’s The Teammates). Even the way-too-tight, oddly colored baseball and basketball uniforms of the 1970s somehow represent a time that we made it through. And that’s pretty cool. : )

The First Day of Happy

So, if the news is any indication, today is anything but a happy day anywhere in the world (unless you are these guys), but on my way home, I got to thinking that I probably spend about 75% of my time irritated, upset, or critical. I gripe at every person on the road, tap my toe inside my shoe when in line at Target, and became so disillusioned before the election that I almost didn't vote. The economy is in bad shape and any dozen people could give you two dozen different reasons why.

I can't completely change, and there is something really annoying about a constant Pollyanna. But I know that I am very, very lucky. I have a great family. I have several people that I consider true friends. I frequently encounter people who emerge as allies, even when I didn't know they were there. I live in the best country on earth, no matter what party you belong to. I think most people can find these small things in their lives, too. There *is* happy in every single day.

Today, my reason to be happy are two - Owen and Theo. They are finicky and not always well behaved. But every time I show up, they are completely excited. They are always interested in impressing me. They do interesting things, like watch TV or dance like ballerinas. They don't care if I get promoted or that I have credit card debt. And they are just darned cute.

What made you happy today?