Fifty Things

Today, I turn 50.  In normal years, I would celebrate with a social gathering and/or travel.  In this crazy year, that is not possible.  We’ve all had a hard year and it is easy to focus on the things that should have and could have been, as well those things we all wish had never happened.

However, as an optimist and an idealist, I decided today to instead share fifty things that have brought me joy in the last year.  The blog is my personal gratitude list but I hope several of the links might bring you happiness as well.

Fifty Things:

1. Healthy family
2. Healthy Pets
3. A warm home
4. A fun new job – Go Cougs!
5. No knead focaccia
6. Discovery Park
7. Colorado snow (last trip before the pandemic)
8. Friday early morning zoom yoga with cats
9. Our patio project
10. Socially distanced patio happy hours with friends
11. Neighborhood walks
12. Louise Penny mysteries
13. Beauty berry – it took 10+ years for this plant in my yard to finally do its thing. 
14. The oreo cookie vault
15. Fourth year veterinary students who like emergency medicine
16. Published paper
17. Checklists
18. Backpacking in Olympic National Park

    

19. SNL Political skits – although this one from years ago is still my favorite
20. Roof top meal at Mischief
21. Zoom college friend get togethers
22. Derry Girls (Netflix)
23. Freakonomics podcast – this episode about the problems with a political duopology is especially interesting
24. Blogs that concentrate on bright spots
25. 25^th Wedding Anniversary
26. My son playing piano
27. Online collaboration with veterinarians from around the world
28. Holding ECC topic rounds outside
29. Knee Deep by the Zac Brown Band
30. Our front yard tree
31. Homegrown garlic
32. Mountain beavers (yes, really)
33. Online bridge
34. Paddleboarding on Lake Wenatchee
35. Jackbox online game nights with family
36. Guacamole from Senor Moose
37. Morning coffee and the newspaper
38. Listening to playlists shared with me by my daughter while driving through the Palouse
39. Jacinda Ardern
40. Veterinary ventilators saving human lives
41. Peace by Taylor Swift
42. Dinnertime family discussions
43. Pumpkins
44. Flowers from my sister
45. Fresh pressed apple cider from our trees
46. Turtleback Mountain Reserve – donations from over 2000 individuals preserved this amazing place

    

47.  Orca babies
48.  March by The Chicks
49. Socially distanced trick or treating – pulleys, cranes, and tubes
50. Record voter turnout – it gives me hope that Americans believe in democracy

What are your 50 things?