Bay City, Michigan 48706
Front Page 10/03/2024 08:49 About us
Home Community Arts/Theater Business Schools Government Downtown
Local News Opinion Health/Fitness Events Groups & Non-Profits
Issue 1561 November 25, 2012
(Prior Story)   Columns ArTicle 7622   (Next Story)

Thinking Out Loud
My Hills Are Alive

November 25, 2012       Leave a Comment
By: Diane Szczepanski

Printer Friendly Story View

These are a few of my favorite things
 

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things
Rodgers and Hammerstein


In recent years, I have gained a solid respect for appreciating the little things in life.

Call it maturity, call it being resigned that I've not had really huge, luxurious, expensive pleasures come my way, call it finding contentment in life. Call it Maria syndrome from the 'Sound of Music'.

Call it what you want.

It's my favorite little things that bring me great pleasure.

Waking up to see snow on the ground on a day off. Taking great joy I don't have to leave the house. Knowing I can sip endless cups of hot coffee, while snuggling on the couch with my favorite throw and a good movie.

Occasionally indulging in a breakfast of 2 pieces of 'Spatz' bread toast with peanut butter and strawberry preserves. Not jelly. Or sugar-free jam. Full out PRESERVES.

Hearing a tune that inspires uninhibited dancing, head-nodding and shameless arm-pumping. Or one so beautifully written and composed it brings a tear to my eyes.

My dad's grilled teriyaki steak and wafer-thin sliced cucumbers and onions in his own, inimitable cream sauce. Followed by my mom's sour cream cookies for dessert. Heaven.

When my son talks to me as a person and leaves out teenage angst and sarcasm and I get to hear his views on life. Reveling in proud awe of the adult he's becoming and realizing that all those things I tried to teach over the years, really did sink in.

When a flock of geese fly over my house in perfect unison. Making their trek from the river back to their nesting place in the swamp nearby and I'm lucky enough to be outside to watch and listen.

Laughing so hard with a good friend that all traces of mascara are gone and I realize I don't even care if I look like a raccoon with a runny nose.

A bike ride when the wind is at my back and I can go really, REALLY fast.

The feeling of pulling into the driveway after a long, hard day and appreciating my home is not just a house, but a comforting refuge.

Ah yes, the list goes on and on and I've had so many small pleasurable moments in my life so far. Too many for this little space and too many for you to be interested in investing the time to read them all.

However, I do encourage you to make your own list. You might be surprised, as I was, at how happy you really are.

You may find your hills alive too.



Printer Friendly Story View
Prior Article

February 10, 2020
by: Rachel Reh
Family Winter Fun Fest is BACC Hot Spot for 2/10/2020
Next Article

February 2, 2020
by: Kathy Rupert-Mathews
MOVIE REVIEW: "Just Mercy" ... You Will Shed Tears, or at Least You Should
Agree? or Disagree?


Diane Szczepanski

Business-woman by day, confessed boot addict by night and 'wanna-be' writer, music lover and proud Mom of an awesome guitar playing, teen son.

More from Diane Szczepanski

Send This Story to a Friend!       Letter to the editor       Link to this Story
Printer-Friendly Story View


--- Advertisments ---
     


0200 Nd: 09-29-2024 d 4 cpr 1






12/31/2020 P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm

SPONSORED LINKS



12/31/2020 drop ads P3v3-0200-Ad.cfm


Designed at OJ Advertising, Inc. (V3) (v3) Software by Mid-Michigan Computer Consultants
Bay City, Michigan USA
All Photographs and Content Copyright © 1998 - 2024 by OJA/MMCC. They may be used by permission only.
P3V3-0200 (1) 0   ID:Default   UserID:Default   Type:reader   R:x   PubID:mbC   NewspaperID:1561
  pid:1560   pd:11-18-2012   nd:2024-09-29   ax:2024-10-03   Site:5   ArticleID:7622   MaxA: 999999   MaxAA: 999999
CCBot/2.0 (https://commoncrawl.org/faq/)