Thank You

You know who you are and you know what you did. XOXOXO

Happiness Is Love

Each morning I receive inspirational quotes about happiness, called the "Moment of Happiness," from The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I love The Happiness Project. It's one of the most feel-good websites I know.

Each quote in the Moment of Happiness is unique and focusses on a different aspect of happiness. Today's quote I found to be particularly special and I thought I'd share it with you. It also happens to be a favorite quote of mine from the Bible.

"Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Betsey and Ross Gardner: July 4, 1996 - March 23, 2012

Betsey and Ross age 10. Ross is wearing a little lipstick from a kiss he received from his mom.

Betsey and Ross Gardner were born on July 4, 1996 on the rough streets of Washington D.C. to a single cat mother. They were two of three kittens born that day and quickly taken in by a kindly gentleman in Northwest DC. After eight weeks of love and nurturing, he searched online for a warm and caring home for two of the kittens, as he could only keep the mom and one kitten and quickly found an eager, albeit nervous, adoptive first-time pet mom.

Siblings, best friends, and litter mates, Betsey and Ross were adopted by Jessica Gardner, a novice pet owner, under the cheerleading and mentorship of her friends Karen and Kelly, and moved into their new home, a palatial one-bedroom apartment in upper-middle-class DC suburb Alexandria, Virginia. Their home was complete with indoor bathroom facilities, regular feedings, ample water, and many windows from which to serenade the birds perched high in the trees.

When they were adopted, Betsey and Ross had no names, but through a nomination convention and then secure voting process, the names Betsey and Ross were chosen by Jessica's friends in honor of Betsy Ross, the creator of the American Flag, that their birthday was the Fourth of July and they were born in Washington, D.C. Betsey's name has an E because Jessica didn't know how to spell Betsy. True story.

Betsey and Ross had many hobbies, including sleeping, grooming each other, purring, snuggling with and kneading their adopted mom, and playing with their cat toys and each other. Betsey especially loved tuna and would "sing for her supper" each time a can was opened anywhere in 3-home radius. Ross was particularly fond of ice cream and all "human food" often attempting to take food right off his mom's plate. On one occasion, in 2007, Betsey saved her mom's life when a mouse entered their home in the northwest Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights. Without care for her own well-being, Betsey heroically killed the beast and saved the family. Ross kept feral cats at bay when he bravely guarded the house from the living room sliding glass door.

Betsey and Ross were often featured on their mom's blog, Little Merry Sunshine, where they even penned a few posts (and here and here and here). They also have a Twitterfeed where they chat with their friends whenever they can wrangle the computer or cell phone from their mom. Their last tweet was "We have loved our mom, @Jessica_Gardner & are grateful for the life she gave us. Although we are leaving her, we will always watch over her."

Both Betsey and Ross loved to travel. Although getting them in the car was never easy, once there, Betsey would sing along with the radio or make up her own tunes, chat with Ross, and then sleep. Ross preferred to check out the scenery. Both cats had well-used passports that were stamped in many far away lands, including DC, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. They've seen the Atlantic Ocean, Lake Michigan, the Appalachian Mountains, the Chicago Skyline, and all the monuments in Washington DC. They even flew on airplanes. Plus, they went to Watervale once!

Betsey and Ross had a brief brush with fame (although fortune was not included) in 2008 when they were selected to be Super Dele-Cats for then presidential candidate Barak Obama and were featured on the website Cats for Obama (scroll about 3/4 of the way down the page). Before their passing, Betsey and Ross once again endorsed President Obama for a second term as our nation's Commander in Chief because of his belief that every cat's food dish should have catnip.

Although the final two years of their lives were filled with illness, they spent the majority of their almost 16 years in excellent health. Betsey became ill in the summer of 2010 and after countless tests, the diagnosis was hyperthyroidism and cystitis. Until just recently, neither of these illnesses slowed Betsey down. She steadfastly crawled into bed nightly to snuggle and lick her mom's eyelids. Never one to complain, Betsey was brave throughout many treatment cycles, concealing her physical pain until it was too overwhelming to hide and her body simply shut down. Ross was diagnosed with Diabetes and a cancerous Mast Cell Tumor in June 2011. Since that time, he fought an amazing battle, but in the end, the Diabetes won out and Ross was no longer able to control his major organs.

Many people believed Betsey to be aloof and sometimes mean because she was an introvert, not the easiest to get to know and would often hiss at or hide from anyone other than her mom and those she knew best. The truth was that Betsey was fiercely loyal, loving, and playful, usually greeting her mom at the front door, eager to share the adventures of her day. Recently, Betsey showed her true colors when her mom had the stomach flu. Although sick herself, Betsey stayed by her mom's side throughout the ordeal using her purring and kneading powers to bring her mom back to good health.

Ross loved everyone. Just step within three feet of him and he'd start purring and delighted in having his Budda belly rubbed. He also served as the official family doorman, greeting all visitors with hospitality and warmth. Ross loved to play Hide & Go Seek; his favorite spot was inside a dark closet or underneath his mom's bed (aka The Cat Cave).

Having moved to Lake Bluff, Illinois in September 2011, both Betsey and Ross loved exploring the family's new home and making their special places on the new sofa, in the walk-in closet, in the bathtub, on the bed, and on the wingback chair. Starting life in the mean streets of DC and ending up on Chicago's swanky North Shore, Betsey and Ross's lives were a true Horatio Alger story.

Betsey will be remembered for her outspokenness when she could see the bottom of the food dish (even if that were only possible because she'd pawed her way to the bottom of a full bowl), the way she sang in the backseat of the car whenever she visited her vet, her kisses and healing kneading powers, and her loud purr. Ross will be remembered for his love of snuggling, his racing around the house like it was his personal Indy 500 track, his loud purr and kisses, his general rough and tumble attitude, and the way he finagled liposuction in 2005. Of course, the yellow onsie he had to wear after surgery made it all worth it.

When asked for a comment, through her tears, Jessica said, "Betsey and Ross were the best first pets I could ever have asked for. Having not grown up with pets of any kind, I was terrified that first night, but they quickly came to inhabit a large part of my heart. I truly loved each and every day that I was allowed to be their "mom" and only hope I brought as much to their lives as they brought to mine. Saying good-bye to them is breaking my heart, but I take comfort in knowing that they came into this world together and they are leaving together. They have not spent more than one night apart in their almost 16 years and now they will spend eternity together running freely and in perfect health in Kitty Heaven. Knowing they are both free of their illnesses also brings me peace. I will think of them often, but especially on the 4th of July as I'm watching fireworks."

Betsey and Ross spent their final night snuggled up with their mom, purring and enjoying their favorite foods, and generally unaware of their fate. In their final hour, love filled the room as they said their good-byes.

Throughout their lives, Betsey and Ross had a few special caregivers they dearly loved, including Dr. Donna Krochak at the Alexandria Animal Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia, Dr. Jennifer Kinnavy and Dr. Nick Guedet of March Animal Hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Andrea Tredway, vet tech extraordinaire and the cousin of Jessica, Betsey's mom, in St. Charles, Missouri who always took Jessica's panicked phone calls about her pet's health. For their skill, love and care, the family will always be grateful.

Betsey and Ross are survived by their mom Jessica, and many other friends and family members, including a special friend who they know is giving Jessica some TLC tonight and was there with them in their final moments.

Happy Birthday Jon Bon Jovi!

Happy Birthday Jon Bon Jovi! Damn, 50 looks good on you.

I first fell in lust for Jon Bon Jovi when I was in high school and that lust has continued for over two decades. My high school boyfriend took me to see Bon Jovi at the Rosemont Horizon during the Slippery When Wet tour. We were in the 6th row.

Since then, I've seen live Bon Jovi a couple more times, including four years ago. And in 20+ years, Bon Jovi just keeps getting better and better.

Here are a couple of my favorite Bon Jovi songs:

I'll Be There for You because of a different high school friend and all that he meant to me during my senior year.

Hallelujah - such a beautifully haunting song. One of my most favorite songs ever.

Wanted Dead or Alive

It's My Life

(You Want to) Make A Memory

Finally, You Give Love a Bad Name - because of the first man to break my heart.

It's the Little Things . . .

I was catching up on my favorite blogs a few minutes ago when I ran across a post from my friend Elise that I'd somehow missed when she originally posted it 11 days ago. Elise is a student at Lake Forest College I've had the incredible privilege to know over the past two years. This semester, she's studying in Botswana and documenting her experience in a delightful blog, Miss Post-it Goes Global. The post, Rising to the Challenge, is about her struggle to find the little things that make her happy while learning to adjust to life in a foreign country.

Elise reminded me tonight that it's the little things that matter the most, so I thought I'd take few minutes tonight to take stock of the little things that make me the happiest.

It's the little things that make me happy . . .

• watching the sunrise in the morning and the sunset at night
• crawling into my pre-heated bed each night thanks to my heated mattress pad
• being woken at night by Betsey or Ross given me "kisses" on my eyelids
• finding a rainbow
• lunch at home in the middle of a busy work day
• a freshly washed car
• fresh white grapefruit
• freshly painted toenails
• a hug
• an ice-cold glass of water
• sitting across the dinner table from a very special friend
• a handwritten note of praise or just telling me to have a good day
• an unexpected phone call from a friend "just because"
• finding cash in my pocket, even if it's just a dollar or two
• fresh off the vine, perfectly ripe tomatoes (not the ones they sell in the store, the ones off the vine 10 minutes ago)
• tulips, stargazer lilies, and daisies
• fresh cut lavender
• a full tank of gas in my car
• sand between my toes
• a hot shower
• thunderstorms
• sitting in front of a warm fire
• the Northern Lights
• snuggling on the sofa
• a good book
• mashed potatoes with lots of butter and garlic
  
• sweet corn on the cob
• Michigan cherries
• a clean condo
• swimming
• the smile on someone's face when I do something or say something that makes them happy
• doing Random Acts of Kindness

There are many other "little things" that make me happy as well, but these are the ones that immediately come to mind. What makes me happiest is that I've experienced 17 of those items since Saturday, so in the last 4 days.

I hope you have an equally long list of little things that make you happy each day.

Love, Valentine's Day Style

However you celebrated Valentine's Day, I hope it was exactly the way you wanted it. If you are not currently in a relationship, I hope you took today to shower yourself with some extra TLC. You deserve it. If you're in a relationship and felt some pressure to "do the right thing" (whatever that is), I hope you didn't step on any land mines and however you and your partner chose to celebrate made you feel loved.

I have to admit it, I used to think Valentine's Day was for the birds, but I've changed my mind. Don't misunderstand me, I still prefer someone who shows me he loves me through the small thoughtful vanilla everyday gestures to someone who never shows his love unless Hallmark tells him to, but there's something wonderfully delicious about the unabashed love that gets shown on Valentine's Day.

Here are a couple of great videos I discovered earlier today thanks to Scott Kleinberg on Twitter. I'm telling you, if you don't follow Scott, well, you are missing out. Just trust me. And go follow him.

First, the Valentine's Day Google Doodle. God love the Googles. What did we do without the Googles? Oh, and thank goodness for Tony Bennett. Speaking of romance, he brings it.

And my favorite video of the day, How Hollywood Says "I Love You" by Matthew Belinke from the website Overthinking It. Because I love you, (yes, that means YOU), I've included the transcript which I got off You Tube. Raise your hand if you can quote at least 75% of these lines from memory. Ya, me too.

TRANSCRIPT: I've been doing a lot of thinking, and the thing is, I love you. You are the epitome of everything I've ever looked for in another human being. Love is too weak a word for the way I feel. I lurv you. I loave you. I luff you. I sort of feel like I'm on drugs when I'm when you. Not that I do drugs, unless you do drugs, in which case I do drugs all the time. There's only one place in the world I call home and it's because you're there. I'd feel better sitting outside your apartment on the curb than any other place I can think of or imagine. I'm not waking up another morning without being able to look at you next to me. I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.

Can't you see what I'm trying to tell you, I love you! Very much. No other love but you. I love you. Like a sickness and its cure together. I love you. (Ditto.) I should have told you every day from the moment I met you. You complete me. Te adoro, Maria. I love you Chicken. I love you Honey Bunny. I think that's the only thing I've ever been really sure of in my entire life. You are the woman that I want. How many more times do I have to say it? (One more time would be nice.) You have bewitched me, body and soul. Whatever I am... I'm yours. I am so in love with you. You're the only one for me.

I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is. Love means never having to say you're sorry. Love is a many-splendored thing. Love lifts us up where we belong, all you need is love! Some people search all their life for this and never find it. You think this happens everyday? I love you dream woman! What do I have to do to prove it to you? Huh? You want the moon? You want me to renounce my throne? The wooing, the spooning, I am all in! Because when you find the one... you never give up. All I ever wanted... was you!

I love you. I love you. I love you. I've loved you more than any woman's ever loved a rabbit. I love you more than anyone has ever loved. I love you more than my life. I love you more than band music and cookie-making. I want to be with you. I made up my mind you were the only woman for me. I've loved you since the first day I met you, and I'll never stop. I'll love you always. Until your heart stops beating. 'Til the stars turn cold. Forever. I've never felt that before.

I love you. Can't believe how many times I'm saying it! I love you. Because I came alive when I met you. And there's only one person that makes me feel like I can fly. So I will wait forever for you, okay? I will wait the rest of my life. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day. I love you. I love you. I love you! I love you! I love you. I always have. And I always will. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of the life to start as soon as possible.

Just shut up... you had me at "hello."

Happy Valentine's Day.

As always, if you can't see the videos when you read LMS via email, click here so you can see the videos. They're worth it.

Valentine's Day Romance Tips from Rev. Al Sharpton

It's Valentine's Day and I'm sure you can all feel love in the air. I know I can. After my birthday, Christmas, Memorial Day, Easter, Ground Hog's Day, Casmir Pulaski Day, Flag Day (aka Birthday Eve), Pi Day, National Hotdog Day, Opening Day of Major League Baseball, Susan B. Anthony's Birthday, No Housework Day, National Duran Duran Appreciation Day, Valentine's Day is my absolutely favorite holiday. (Note: Those are all real "holidays". Use the Googles. You'll find them.)

I was going to share with you my suggestions for sweeping your love off his or her feet this Valentine's Day, but then my friend Steve posted the video below on Facebook and I see that the Reverend Al Sharpton has it all covered for me.

Given how much I love politics, I'm sure you won't be surprised how many of the good Reverend's suggestions could work on me this Valentine's Day. They won't, so no one should try any of them with me, but in theory they could.

As always, if you read Little Merry Sunshine via email, please click over to the blog and watch the video.

In Memory of Etta James (1938-2012)

Etta James was one of the great ones and each time I hear her belt out At Last, I feel shivers up my spine. If there is a more romantic love song out there, I haven't heard it. RIP Etta James.

And if you didn't well up just a little when Beyonce sang At Last to President and Mrs. Obama at the inauguration, then I'm just not sure what to say.

At Last Lyrics

At last
my love has come along
my lonely days over
and life is like a song

Ooh At last
the skies above are blue
well my heart was wrapped up in clover
the night I looked at you

I found a dream
that I could speak to
a dream that I could call my own
I found a thrill
to press my cheek to
a thrill that I have never known

well

You smile
you smile
oh and then the spell was cast
and here we are in heaven
for you are mine at last

I found a dream
that I could speak to
a dream that I
could call my own
I found a thrill
to press my cheek to
a thrill that I have never known

well

You smile
you smile
oh and then the spell was cast
and here we are in heaven
for you are mine at last

ooo yea
you are mine
you are mine
at last
at last
at last
at last

Day 1 of Birthapalooza was FABULOUS!

I should be exhausted. It's almost midnight and I'm completely wide awake after a spectacular birthday. Well, after Day 1 of Birthapalooza. There's still 2 more days to go.

To be sure, it started out a little iffy with a bad migraine and LOTS of nausea. Don't get any funny ideas, it was just my body telling me that it really is going to fall apart any second.

But then it got better in a huge hurry. Birthday text messages, tweets, Facebook messages, emails, cards, at least 5 serenades of "Happy Birthday" and gifts. Plus, cupcakes, lunch, and a fabulous dinner followed by chocolate cake at the beach!

Plus, the Stargazer Lilies in my garden bloomed today!
If I'm ever feeling down about myself, all I need to do is go back to all those generous messages and feel all the love all over again. My cup completely runneth over. My birthday was better than anything I could have imagined and only Day 1 is over. In fact, as we stood at the beach tonight, I searched for that first star of the evening (you know, to make a wish - doesn't everyone do that?), but when I found it, I realized there was nothing to wish for. I have everything I ever wanted that truly matters. So I just stood there feeling grateful because I am truly blessed.

What Does Your Dash Represent?

I've seen this movie before, but I was reminded of it earlier today when Ron Miller's son, Jim, posted it on Ron's Facebook page with an anecdote about Ron sending it to Jim just before flying to New York two weeks ago. None of us knew Ron's dash would come to an end on that trip, but maybe somewhere inside, Ron did. Without a doubt, his dash changed countless lives and in that way, Ron will live forever in each of us and in those we touch.

As I watched The Dash tonight, I think that in describing my life, I would say that my dash represents all the people I've loved and who've loved me. Those who are no longer in my life, for one reason or another, and those who will remain in my life forever. I'm fortunate that list is long. But my dash could have more patience and less stress. Those are my biggest learning opportunities.

Mix Tapes

As I was driving home tonight, I heard a song on the radio and thought “that song would be perfect for a mix tape.” That thought was immediately followed by “I haven’t made or listened to a mix tape in almost 20 years.”

You remember the mix tape. You made one for your girlfriend or boyfriend. Maybe you made one for your best friends that recalled your last summer together before you all went to separate colleges. People made them for you. They were party souvenirs.

Back in the day, I had a gazillion cassettes, but the ones that have stood the test of time and a dozen moves since high school are my mix tapes. I don’t have any of my Pet Shop Boys or Outfield or even Bon Jovi cassettes anymore, but I still have almost two dozen mix tapes. They span a full decade of my life, from 1984 through 1994, and represent long lost loves, forever friend, parties, vacations, my favorite workout music, and much more.

The first mix tape I ever received was from my high school boyfriend. He gave it to me just before I left for Watervale and I’m sure I spent all 6 hours in the car listening to it on my cassette Walkman. It was full of the music we loved, and listening to it, I knew without a doubt exactly how he felt about me. Unfortunately, that tape died a merciless death at the controls of my tape deck. I listened to it until it wore out.

My favorite mix tape was a surprise from my friend Kirsten in the Fall of 1991. She was studying in Hong Kong and I was back at Lake Forest College, after having spent the summer at Watervale. The tape, called "Jess's Hong Kong Express," was a mix of songs, quotes, poems, and stories of her adventures overseas and the day it appeared in my mailbox, I ran all the way back to Deerpath Hall to listen to it before even cracking a page of homework.

A couple of years ago, I was packing for a romantic getaway and I wanted a soundtrack of music to help set the mood and say the things I couldn’t. I spent a couple of hours putting together a playlist on my iPod, but then when we reached our destination, we realized we didn’t have a docking station. So much for technology. I'm not sure that playlist survived moving to a new laptop and resetting my iPod.

Getting back to my drive home tonight, I began to wonder, how do people in love express their emotions through music in the day of digital downloads? Pandora sort of creates playlists, but they're not fully customizable because Pandora chooses the music for you. Do you “borrow” your lover’s iPod or iPhone and download a custom playlist? That’s sort of romantic, but playlists can easily get deleted. And you can’t exactly create custom artwork on the cover of a playlist the way you can on a cassette. Sure, tapes wear out, melt in your car (assuming you have a cassette player), and get lost, plus the sound quality is no where near as good as today's digital downloads, but there's something really wonderful about holding a tape and knowing the hours of effort that went into making it.

I miss mix tapes and can't help but wonder if, in spite of all the wonderful technological innovations we've had in the last twenty years, maybe we haven't lost one of life's great joys. What do you think?

Do You Remember Your "First Time Around"?

Do you remember your first crush or first love? If you're like most of us, it took place sometime during junior high or high school.

Maybe it was the boy who walked you home throughout junior high and carried your books... Maybe it was the Greek God who turned your world upside down because he was just always there... Maybe it was tennis player who wrote with the red pencil in summer school, making it difficult to read his name on his paper, but ultimately had you with that first kiss... Maybe it was the Band Geek who drove you home everyday... Maybe it was someone else.

Whomever it was, I'm sure you fell hard. And if you stop to think about it now, you can probably instantly go right back to that moment and how you felt. If you're like most of us, it didn't last. Only very few of us actually get it right the first time around.

In his second novel book, First Time Around, Michael Bellito takes us back to that time. That time of innocence, when the world was easy, yet our love seemed all-consuming and the heartbreak heart breaking.

For John Hersey High School alums, Mr. Bellito was one of our favorite English teachers and/or speech coaches. More than anything, he introduced me to my lifelong love: the love of words and how to weave them together to tell a story.

Mr. Bellito will launch First Time Around at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library on Wednesday, January 12th at 7pm. He'll do a reading and sign copies. Of course, books will be for sale. Go and say hello. Trust me, he loves nothing more than reconnecting with former students.

Can't make it on the 12th? Don't worry, he'll also be at the Prospect Heights Library on Thursday, February 3rd at 7pm. I'll be there.

Simple Truths of Life

My dear friend Sue posted this on Facebook yesterday. In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share it here and let you be inspired too.

Simple Truths of Life Movie


Remember that life isn't about the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away.

It's not about whether you have a Valentine this year or not. It's about who you are and whether you love the person you are becoming each day.

Each of you, my readers, are my Valentine and I love each of you.

The Hug-E-Gram - The Perfect Gift for Valentine's Day

Are you still looking for the perfect Valentine's Day Gift? I'm sure you know how much is riding on Valentine's Day and there's enormous pressure to get it just right, so you'd better not screw this up.

Not to worry. Little Merry Sunshine (thanks to her college friend Koko) has just the perfect gift for you. The Hug-E-Gram!

Your Valentine will treasure this thoughtful gift for years to come. Whenever you can't be there to wrap your loving arms around her, the "two soft plush cotton arms with cartoon hands . . . create a soft and cuddly hug giving a heartwarming feeling" that will remind her of your undying affection.

But wait! It gets better! You can even whisper sweet nothings in her ear as you "hug" her by recording your own voice in the Hug-E-Gram!

There's even more! Your Hug-E-Gram will even be delivered with a bouquet of wooden roses because nothing smells quite as sweet as . . . wooden roses? On the upside, they won't wilt on Monday.

You must HURRY! You've only got until 1pm ET (that's 12noon for you Midwesterners) to place your order so they can rush your Hug-E-Gram for Saturday delivery. It's just $64.98 with overnight delivery, but your Sweetie is worth that, right?

Just look at how happy and fulfilled this woman seems. She clearly couldn't feel more love if her beloved were right there embracing her himself.

How Will You Show Your Love?

Valentine's Day is right around the corner and the pressure is on to shower your beloved with the most romantic, over-the-top expression of your devotion EVER. If you think inside the box, you probably get suckered into the over-priced red roses and dinner at some 5-star restaurant where they've jacked up the prices 1000% just for the night. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Now, before you think I'm (a) not at all romantic or (b) just jaded because no one has ever done these things for me on Valentine's Day, let me assure you that I am in fact quite the romantic (possibly too romantic for my own good) and that although, it's true, no one has ever pulled out those kinds of stops for me on Valentine's Day, I am not jaded. I just believe that romance shouldn't be a one day a year expression and I also have an incredibly practical side.

I believe it's important to weave romance into everyday life. For me, romance is found in the little expressions, just as much, if not more so than the over-the-top ones. Plus, I value creativity, which is why even though White Castle isn't my thing, I think taking your beloved to White Castle could be kind of romantic. It shows you're not just using a standard playbook, but you can think outside of the box. And that's always sexy and romantic.

Show Her You Love Her - Take Her to White Castle
by Stefano Esposito, Chicago Sun-Times, January 19, 2010

You could blow a week's pay on fresh lobster, a bottle of bubbly and a quiet table with a waiter named Jean-Pierre to impress your sweetheart on Valentine's Day.

Or . . . you could surprise her with your, ah, thrift and willingness to stand out from the crowd by taking her out for the Valentine's special at your neighborhood White Castle, where, just for this occasion, they're offering a candlelit dinner, with tableside service and flowers.

They've done this before. Some people even dress up and rent a limo, says Jamie Richardson, a White Castle spokesman. They're taking reservations, too -- call (708) 458-4450, ext. 0.

Natural Highs

#15 on the list of Natural Highs.
Taken by me at Watervale, August 2007.

A good friend sent me a delightful email yesterday that put a big smile on my face. It was titled "Natural Highs" and I'm sure you (like me) have seen this list before, but it's so good it's worth repeating.

How many Natural Highs have you experienced recently? I've had 25 Natural Highs lately.

Natural Highs

1. Falling in love.

2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.

3. A hot shower.

4. No lines at the supermarket.

5. A special glance.

6. Getting mail.

7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.

8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.

9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.

10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.

11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry).

12. A bubble bath.

13. Giggling.

15. The beach.

16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.

17. Laughing at yourself.

18. Looking into someone's eyes and knowing they love you.

19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.

20. Running through sprinklers.

21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.

23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS.

24. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

25. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.

26. Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).

27. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

28. Playing with a new puppy.

29. Having someone play with your hair.

30. Sweet dreams.

31. Hot chocolate.

32. Road trips with friends.

33. Swinging on swings.

34. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.

35. Making chocolate chip cookies.

36. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.

37. Holding hands with someone you care about.

38. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.

39. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.

40. Watching the sunrise.

41. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.

42. Knowing that somebody misses you.

43. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.

44. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

Post-It Note Love

Do you recall the Extreme Sticky Note Experiments post from last month? Here's another abuse of post-it note office supplies video that's sure to put a smile on your face.

Happy Saturday and first day of Summer!

Stand By Me

At some point in life, we each need someone by our side. I don't care who you are or how tough you pretend to be (and I'm talking to myself here too!), none of us is an island. We need each other. We need each other in the good times as well as the bad times. I think it's easy to think that we need each other in the tough times (because of course we do), but the fact is the good times are better when shared with the people we love.

My favorite moments in life are when I can share something joyful with someone else. I can remember as a little kid racing home from school (all 2 blocks of it) to share something great with my mom. Maybe it was an A on a test or maybe it was being chosen to take the chickens my 2nd grade class hatched home for the weekend (true story). I still love that feeling of sharing something great with someone I love.

So I'm sharing this video with you because it touched me today and I know it will warm your heart too.

After you watch it, rush over to Playing For Change to learn the back story. You might also read about it on Gizmodo. You'll love it even more.

You Were Loved

This is one of my absolute most favorite songs in the world. Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I turn it on as loudly as possible and remember all the people I have ever loved and have ever loved me. Clarence the Angel in "It's A Wonderful Life" (and here) had it right when he inscribed that book to George: "No man is a failure who has friends."

And so this afternoon, I post this video of "You Were Loved" by Wynonna (which is from the Touched by An Angel soundtrack) set to clips from The Lion King (I'm not sure why, but it's the only video of this I could find) and dedicate it to all those I love. And if you're reading this post and wondering if I mean you, the answer is yes.



For the full effect, read the lyrics too.

You Were Loved by Wynonna
We all want to make our place in this world
We all want our voices to be heard
Everyone wants a chance to be someone
We all have dreams we need to dream
But sweeter than any star you can reach
Is when you reach and find you've found someone
You'll hold this world's most priceless thing
The greatest gift this life can bring
If you can look back and know
You were loved.
CHORUS:
You were loved by someone
Touched by someone
Held by someone
Meant something to someone
Loved somebody
Touched somebody's heart along the way
You can look back and say
You were loved.
You can have diamonds in your hand.
Have all the riches in the land
Without love do you really have a thing
When someone cares that you're alive
When someone finds their world in your eyes
Then you'll know you've find all you need
You'll hold this world's most priceless prize
The sweetest treasure in this world
If you can look back and say
You were loved
CHORUS
So many roads that you can take
Whatever way you go
Don't take that road alone
Better you should know...
You were loved by someone
Touched by someone
Held by someone
Meant something to someone
Loved somebody
Touched somebody's heart along the way
You can look back and say
You did OK
You were loved.
So remember to tell that one
You are loved.

I'm a Sucker for Romance

Okay, maybe I'm just a overly soft-hearted girl or maybe I've watched one too many Hallmark Hall of Fame specials (wait, those actually make me vomit), but whatever it is, I'm so touched by this story. Not that I live with any illusions or hopes of being reunited with my first love or any of the wonderful men in my past because I don't. (Note to each of them who reads my blog: you are all wonderful and you each brought something incredible to my life and helped make me the woman I am today, but that's where it stays, sorry.)

Whatever it is, I just love stories like this, especially in these crazy times we live in. They are hopeful and romantic and prove that in the end, love does win out.

In love at 18 -- finally married at 80
'A GUY NEVER FORGETS HIS FIRST LOVE' | Highland Park alums 'right back to the way it was' in 1940s

By John Flaherty, Sun-Times

Jack Ross and Win Cushman were students at Highland Park High School when they fell in love the first time -- more than 60 years ago.

They held hands, went to dances. She knitted him a sweater. They talked of their future.

Then, she went off to college in Iowa. His family moved to New York, and he went to school, then to war in Korea.

They ended up marrying other people, had children, then grandchildren.

By 2006, they'd gone more than half a century without any contact. They were each widowed and alone, living on opposite sides of the country. Then, each decided to send the other a Christmas card. The rest came easily.

On Monday, now living in Arizona, Ross and Cushman got married again -- this time, to each other.

"A guy never forgets his first love," said Ross, a former commercial photographer who was married for 48 years and lived in Schenectady, N.Y. "You wonder from time to time: Where is she? How is she doing?"

Just before Christmas 2006, he found an address for Cushman on the Internet. But it was wrong, and the card came back.

Cushman was married for 52 years, living mostly in the Chicago area. Her mother always liked Ross and would tell her how he was doing. She kept a picture of the two of them sitting on her family's couch in Highland Park. "I didn't want to forget him," Cushman said.

By 2006, she'd moved to Arizona to be closer to one of her daughters. She found his address in an alumni directory and sent a Christmas card. He got it.

"He called, and I just about fainted away," Cushman said.

They got reacquainted over a series of phone calls, and Cushman went to visit her old sweetheart in New York.

Neither of them thinks there's much difference between falling in love at 18 and again at 80.

"I think the both of us went right back to the way it was in high school," Cushman said.

The couple were married at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Peoria, Ariz., where they're part of a group that meets every Monday for breakfast.

"They both looked very happy," said Cushman's daughter, Lydia Bagley, who was matron of honor and who remembers hearing "about Jack periodically when I was growing up. He was the only one brave enough to date the principal's daughter."

After the guests had their wedding breakfast at Cracker Barrel, Bagley said, "We all had cake."

Gannett News Service

Contributing: Maureen O'Donnell

Jack Ross and Win Cushman are married by Dr. James Jacobson Monday with Ross' son-in-law, Tom Bagley, as the best man. They dated (inset) at Highland Park High School but then lost touch.
(Mark Henle/Gannett News Service)