A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

I've been thinking for months about his blog, and I think it's time to bring it to life. I've been thinking about a few of my favorite things. What is it in this life that truly brings me enjoyment, pleasure, happiness? It's a difficult question for most of us to answer, and I wonder if any of us truly give more than just a generic answer when the question is asked.

What are a few of my favorite things? I love rainy days. I'll take a gloomy, grey-skied day any day over a bright sunny one. Music. I have eclectic tastes in music, ranging the gamut from Classical to Country. I am a musician-a trained vocalist, a keyboardist and I am absolutely in my element when I am accompanying a singer or group of singers or playing a prelude before Mass. It's spiritual, and flows from deep within, although I'm first to admit my imperfections as a musician. I don't always hit the right notes, I don't always play in perfect rhythm, I'm not always on top of my game, but playing music, enriching people's lives with the musical abilities I've been given is one of the happiest things in my life. I'm a vocalist, and, if I'm being honest, that's where my true talent lies, I'd still rather be a keyboardist. However, as I wrote earlier this week, I love joining my voice with the men's chorus. It's such an amazing sound, such a sense of contribution and accomplishment. I love the people in my life. I've been blessed with some very close and dear friends, both near and far in distance, but always close in heart. I love the person I am becoming, the support my friends have given me and the love that I feel in my life each and every day.

People watching, Birmingham, The Pita Stop, The Village Tavern, Starbucks Coffee, Coconut Cream Pie, Edgar's Bakery Cupcakes, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake, Miss Betty's Mac & Cheese, The Golden Girls, Will & Grace, Snuggling under a warm blanket, moments of solitude, cats, social events, facebook, text messages, connecting with old and new friends, watching local TV News, writing, reading books which allow me to think about spirituality, such as the works of Eckhart Tolle, reading books that make me laugh such as the writings of David Sedaris, riding roller coasters, spiritual things and the afterlife, the dying process, the solitude of a cemetery, organizing things around the house, eliminating as much clutter as possible, cleaning the house tends to calm me down, crimson (roll tide!), massages, bubble baths, candles and just being lazy.

Here's my confession: Those are a few of my favorite things. Even in tough economic and social times in our country, it's good to pause and reflect on the good things in life, the things that bring us pleasure, joy and peace. I'm sure if I put a little more thought into it, my list could be even longer, but this is a good snapshot of the things that are enjoyable in my life. Life is, on so many levels, very good. We'd all do well to focus on the positive.