That poor bewildered girl hope has given me an award.
Her mind is clearly not her own.
For some unknown reason she seems to like me.
If I believed in a god he wouldn't know why, for Jesus sake! :¬)
Well anyhow, As part of my acceptance speech I have to list 10 things which make me happy.
Being the miserable bastard that I am, this is proving to be quite a challenge!
So here goes; (These are not in the order of preference in any way.)
1; Babies.
Yes. babies are number one on my list of 'what makes Map happy'!
Ask anyone, I love babies!
Love holding them, looking at them, the smell of them, kissing them, even changing their nappies! (Diapers, for you folks across the pond!)
Nothing makes me smile more than being in the vicinity of babies!
2; Music.
I am never more 'happy in my head' than when I am involved in music in any way.
Doesn't matter if it's performing, creating, listening, I am just happy to be involved. And my kids are the same, which is a double bonus!
3; Annette.
The love of my life. My wife. My best friend. The one who gives me the confidence to do what I want to do. The one who encourages me to 'go for it'. The one who believes in me. She is the fuel for my engine. And she loves me for me. And I can't ask for more than that.
4; The confidence in my daughters.
I am not wishing to brag, but I know for a fact that my babies will grow up to be strong, confident, independent women. That makes me very happy.
5; Bloggers.
Yep, that's you lot.
You make me happy in a way so different to ways 'other' people do.
I never expected to make friends when I put that first toe in the blogger pond, expecting as I did for it to be possibly cold, or at the very least, a tepid watery dip. Instead I have found it to be such a warm and inviting swim in a pool of endless vacation! I have been loved, admired, encouraged and hugged by each and every one of you, in good times and bad. Thank you all.
6; Pals.
I'm not going to mention them by name, and most of them don't even know about this bloggery anyway, so it wouldn'y make any difference.
But pals are so important to me.
(I'm talking mostly man-pals here, it's a guy thing!)
My oldest pal I've known for almost 30 years now. He was my best man when I got married. He has been in bands with me for as long as I have known him. He is Godfather to my first baby.
I would trust him with my life.
My newest pal, has the same name as my oldest pal, and, though we have yet to meet, I feel his friendship just as strong as though I had lived next door to him in d'island field, a few miles indeed from Drumchapel.
I would trust him with my life.
7; Swimming in the ocean.
Now, I only learned to swim about four years ago, having lived for the previous 44 or so years quite content with the dread fear of water! But my babies (all fantastic swimmers) persuaded me to take lessons, which I did (under pressure), and have never looked back. If the joy of swimming in our local leisure-centre pool made me delirious with aqua-joy, the ecstacy I felt the first time I swam underwater in the warm joy that was the Atlantic, off the coast of north Africa was a head-banging sensation I would re-live every day of my life if I could!
8; People Watching.
I just get such a craic out of watching ordinary everyday people going about their business. I think it is wonderful how everybody, strangers, neighbours, even family, have such different lives. It amazes me! And makes me happy to see other people (complete strangers) go about their lives, laughing, shopping, holding hands and kissing/hugging and not having noticed that they were being noticed!
9; Art.
Back to the creative again. I love art in all it's forms.
I have always loved going to galleries, big and small, and have loved introducing my girls to all forms of art. I think at least one of them will find a career there.
(Apart from the performing arts, I have a few fairly large painted pieces of my own creation hanging on my own humble walls!)
10; More Babies.
I am looking forward to the day when I hold my grandbabies in my arms.
The thought of this makes me oh so happy!
So there ya go hope!
There are no rules as to how many, or to whom I should pass this on, so I am leaving it to YOU to take up the challenge. :¬)
I grinned reading your happy list, Map! What a wonderful collection of things that bring you joy!!! And you deserve this little token of appreciation from Hope... You've enriched all of our lives with your thoughtful, caring, silly and outrageous comments! {{hugs}} xoxoxoxo
ReplyDeletethis list made me happy, sugar! xoxoxoxox
ReplyDeletePaintings!!!! Share!!
ReplyDeleteSx
Your list is astonishing similar to my list! It just goes to show you; I walk around thinking I'm one in a million but the truth is I'm just a dime a dozen.
ReplyDeletePon; Thanks, hope you are enjoying your time off! :¬)
ReplyDeletexxx
Sav; Good! It soytenly makes me feel good! :¬)
xoxoxoxo
Scarlet; You show me yours, and I'll show you mine! :¬)
xxx
UB; Naw, there's just the two of us like that! :¬)
You have a great list. I think this is a wonderful thing to sit down and do, especially to remind yourself of all the good things. Perfect post for a late February day...
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on babies - we are running out of them sadly. And bloggers also great. And people watching- ideally in a sunny boulevard with a slurp.
ReplyDeleteHow can such a miserable bastard have so many happinesses? I think you should stop calling yourself miserable.
ReplyDeleteIt's not nice to call a girl bewildered on a Monday. Isn't getting up to go to work bad enough? ;)
ReplyDeleteSo you don't have to deal with an explanation from the heavens, it's simple: you love babies and your wife...and have no problem saying so. So getting this award is your own fault, pal.
By the way, you made me really smile...I had to take swimming lessons at age 12 and was the oldest kid in the pool. Glad to know I wasn't the only one "water phobic".
Now go on. Try to be nice for a while...Jimmy seems to be on vacation. ;)
Leah; Sometimes we don't fully appreciate what we have until we've done an inventory. :¬)
ReplyDeletexxx
Pat; I have a few friends who have married for the second time, to younger women, so there is a steady supply of babies at the moment. And I'm at the age where my nieces are having babies!
I love people watching, and yes it's always better on a sunny Boulevard with a drink in front of me! Off to Paris for a few days in early May so I'll get to do just that! :¬)
xxx
Charlie; I'm quite the opposite most of the time actually, on the outside anyway! :¬)
hope; OK, you got me! I am nice fuckit! :¬)
xxx
spring is my favorite time of the year to be in paris! i.am.so.jealous. xoxoxoxoxo (have fun, sugarpie!)
ReplyDeleteSav; We haven't been there in a while so we are really looking forward to it! (our second daughter was conceived there!) :¬)
ReplyDeletexoxoxox
You are very deserving of it!
ReplyDeleteI also love to people watch.
The funnest place to people watch is Las Vegas... OMG! There are some strange ones there!
ReplyDeleteAs long as you are happy and healthy and surrounded by those you love (and love you), all is right in the world. xoxoxoxo
Pon; Not so healthy today, woke up with sore throat! No gigs 'til Sat though so hopefully all will be fine by then. All is fine on the 'surrounded by love' front though!
ReplyDeleteWe have our fair share of 'strange ones' to watch in this town too I have to tell ya!! :¬)
xxx
You define "nappies" and leave me with "craic"?!
ReplyDeleteI think you're making stuff up, Map. :-)
Pearl
p.s. Excellent list.
AJ; Missed ya there! Thank you. :¬)
ReplyDeletexxx
Pearl; Craic? (Pronounced crack) is having fun with friends or family or strangers or anybody really, usually in the company of good drink! (As in, "there was great craic in mapstew's gaff last night"!) :¬)
xxx
Pearl; 'Craic' can also be used instead of 'kick' or 'buzz' as in "I get a craic out of watching....".
ReplyDelete(Maybe I am making this up!) :¬)
xxx
What a list- mine would be concise: "Happy when I'm asleep"
ReplyDeleteGargle with warm salt water a couple times a day... see if that helps. xoxo
ReplyDeleteMomo; Way I'm feeling today I could quite happily stay in bed for a week! But stuff got to be done! :¬)
ReplyDeletePon; Thanks hon, but I feel a dose of the 'ManFlu' comin' on! Let the World beware!! :¬)
xxx
That friend in the Drum has had your back for a long time.
ReplyDeleteJimmy; He's a good lad!
ReplyDeleteIs chara maith tu, mile maith. :¬)
You like to swim in the ocean? Then get yourself a pair of goggles and a snorkle, it takes a little while to come to terms with the whole breathing underwater thing but it will lighten your soul forever. Here in Oz we have great oceans (all around) and most of us live right by it...its fantastic...except for the White Pointers, Blue Ringed Octopus and poisonous Jellyfish. (not putting you off am I?!)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the award. Reading your list made me feel happy.
ReplyDeletehttp://caffeinatedglobe.blogspot.com/
TCG; Thank you. :¬)
ReplyDelete