The Very Best

This isn't the post some of you may be expecting. That post will hopefully come much later today (after we find out and then make a quick trip to BabyGap).

This post, actually, was inspired by Holly's—at Nothing But Bonfires—latest post.

Every night after a very long commute, part of which was spent stopped at various red lights in various parts of seedy Dallas and another part spent sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, I walk in to find Molly going just insane to see me. She jumps, she wags her tail, she just saw me less than 12 hours before, but you'd think she hadn't seen me in months. I'm not sure how anyone couldn't be a dog person, but if you aren't, I imagine you've never been met at the door after a really long day by a living creature that is thrilled to see only you. Yes, that's a pretty great feeling.

Then there's that moment, usually in November, when I step outside and smell the first chimney smoke of the season. The smell that reminds me of baking and hot chocolate and college football and dusting off stockings and Christmas tree ornaments and even crowded Target stores and, really, an entire season devoted to mashed potatoes and family (two of my absolute favorite things).

Obviously I've never had a child (other than the above-mentioned dog of mine), but I have been an aunt for some time now, and it's safe to say that one of the very best feelings in the world is when a kid reaches up to you because they recognize you as a safe point, as a person who will comfort them. I hear it gets cumbersome when it's your own and you're constantly expected to pick them "up, up, up," but as an aunt it has never gotten old, having a kid reach for me.

A few others: warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and new scarves and finding an unexpected $20 in a pocket or last-season handbag. Also when you randomly run into someone from high school or college, someone who wasn't always nice to you, someone you never really cared for, no, but when you run into them you look fantastic because you've recently lost weight or gotten an adorable new hair cut or are wearing a pair of the expensive jeans that make everyone's ass look great, and even though you know you shouldn't care, you also know this is how they'll remember you from now on, and you secretly love it. Or rainy days when you don't have to be at work. Chocolate croissants or getting an unexpected "just because" card or birthday parties or popping open a bottle of champagne to celebrate nothing other than making it through another day.

And, finally, not my wedding day or the day Mike told me he loved me for the first time atop the Empire State Building or the early morning beach proposal or the day we found out we were going to have baby—although all of those days were incredible, of course—but the random Wednesday night when we're together on the couch, Mike watching some ridiculous show on the Discovery channel and me reading or writing a blog post or browsing some online sale, and because our couch is the size it is, Mike's legs are draped across mine or his knee is touching me and Molly is jammed in between us somehow, and I realize that all those other huge, monumental days were for this kind of night: the quiet, peaceful, easy kind of night. I look at him, and he doesn't even know I'm looking, and I exhale because this is my life. It's ordinary looking in. We have dirty dishes in the sink, and we live in a boring, quiet suburb, and we have water bills and electricity bills and student loan bills, and our grass doesn't look greener to anyone, I'm certain of it, but on that random Wednesday night, I can't stop thinking, How did I get so damn lucky?

So, what are the best things in your life?

Comments

[K]

Coming home to be greeted by my Delilah. Aren't dogs wonderful?

[michelle of bleeding espresso]

Other than my favorite people, yes, my pooches are the *best* and keep me sane.

P.S. I follow you on Twitter and tweeted a response to your Stars Hollow question--although now I realize you don't follow me so you wouldn't see it. So here it is :)

Says here that Stars Hollow is based on Washington Depot, Connecticut.

[Shelly]

Wow, that last paragraph was fantastic. I kinda got all teary wishing for that exact moment someday!

[Hillary]

Firstly, thank you for this post. I've been cranky all morning and this made me get uncranky.

Secondly, my moments:
-- Sliding into a freshly made bed.
-- Watching The Office with my husband. (We sprawl across our tiny couch, too.)
-- Checking The Boy one last time before bed by the orangey glow of the nightlight.

[Nicole]

I love this list.

[auntie]

Loved this post. Those really are the best kind of times, aren't they?

[Christina]

Great list!
I love the excitment I feel today knowing that tonight my boy will see his Grandparents for the first time in 10(!) Months!
I love the back and forth of this season we have in OH- fall one day, summer the next. Sort of giving us a fair warning that winter will be here in an instant.
I could go on and on. I may do this myself next week.
I CANNOT STINKING WAIT for the next post. Spread'em kid! We are all waiting.

[auntie]

One of my favorite things is laying next to the man I love, realizing how perfectly our bodies fit together, tucked right into that special spot on his shoulder, his arms around me...and then he kisses the top of my head. That brings me a feeling of contentment and security and just pure BLISS that has yet to be matched.

[katie]

Loved this post. Loved it.

It brought tears to my eyes.

Thanks.

[Kate]

So true. It's the little moments like those that make for a rich life.

[Kristie]

Kisses from Jackson even though he often head butts me. Random sideways hugs from Derick, even if they only last for 1 second. And phone calls from friends just see how you are doing. Thanks sweetie, it means a lot.

[rebecca]

after the week I have had, I needed this. Maybe so much I might have to do one of my own, just to remind me of all the good things.
Darling, you completely inspire me.

[Rhi]

I need to revisit my love list. I've been a WEE BIT too crabby lately.

Right this moment, the best thing ever is the random, "Love you cutie..." email I just got from the boy.

[Sharon]

Fantastic post! I sometimes write a love list on Fridays, and did one earlier this morning. It's good to think about all the things you're thankful for in your life, and especially so for us Canadians, as we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend.

[Julie (Koepp) Birdseye]

I'm so blessed to have been able to pick my dream job, and it's actually my life. Yesterday, photographing a friend's bridal portrait, she took the day off of work for the shoot. While on our way to lunch after we were done, she stopped and realized, "this is what you do everyday?!" It's truly a gift to be so happy and love how I spend my time everyday.

[Maggie]

*Walking in the house after being gone and having both dogs dancing on their back legs yelping and greeting me.

*Laughing at STUPID commercials with my husband, knowing that the *gets* why I think they're funny.

*Talking to a friend on the phone who I knows truly cares for me and wants the best for my life.

*Dusting, cleaning, and polishing things in my house... adoring my strange collections and feeling blessed to a wonderful, warm, and cozy place to call home.

[Jennie]

Chills, chills, and more chills.

[Dianna]

Those moments are the very best, I completely agree. I had one very similar to what you described last night, and I cherish it as they don't come very often.

[Kate]

Love this post Jennie! I too love coming home to my dog :) He warms my heart.

[NGS]

Trips to Baby Gap. The first high school football game of the year with a chill in the air with the stale popcorn and fleece blanket wrapped around you. The last kiss goodnight before drifting off to sleep.

[Lauryn]

Hi! I just found your blog!

This is such a beautiful entry. I too am a fan of all of the holiday customs and foods and smells, and those boring evenings on the couch with everything you need right there.