In honor of my brave mama being stronger than I can imagine 29 years ago today, (at the ripe age of 24) — a list of adventures, joys and lessons that have so far made this wild ride incredibly enjoyable:
1. My family. From my Aunt Karen in Pennsylvania to my Grandma Max in Tucson, I am one of the lucky ones who has a family I not only like to spend time with, but truly love.
2. Watching the sunrise over Machu Picchu. I’ll never forget the majesty of this mountainous climb.
3. Swimming. I often feel part-fish. Rivers, lakes, oceans — I love to be in the water.
4. My girlfriends. I’ve got some of those amazing friendships that make me shake my head with disbelief, they are just that good. The give and take of friendship can often be complicated, but thankfully I’ve got some patient, loving and gifted girls who regularly remind me they love me and encourage me to be better.
5. Dogs. Even though those silly dog rescue people didn’t show up last week, I’m getting a dog. I have been contemplating birthday gifts ideas, and I have finally decided that a dog will be my birthday present to myself. Before the year’s end, I’m going to have a four-legged friend sharing the bed.
6. My church. I’ve finally found a place where I feel at home, but still challenged to keep learning. I simply love this congregation.
7. Pumpkins, may they be in bagels, lotions or candles — they remind me of Fall. Fall in Phoenix is sweet dessert after the brutal summer.
8. Cooks Illustrated magazine. It is my favorite thing to read each month, hands down.
9. The New York Times magazine. It is my favorite thing to read each Sunday morning, preferably over a hot cup of tea from a patio perch.
10. Writing. Novels, articles and this blog — it doesn’t matter what form, I feel creatively challenged putting pen to paper.
12. Sew-alongs.
13. Amy Butler.
14. Snarkiness.
15. Riding my bike to work.
16. Mixed CDs. This is still my very favorite gift to receive, perhaps second only to a flight somewhere new.
17. Bolivia. I love the people, culture, music, food and way of life.
18. My friendship with my brother. It’s something relatively new and I am so glad as adults we are this close. I look forward to the day we live closer to each other and can raise our families together.
19. Griffin House. I feel like he writes music with me in mind. Seeing him in concert was incredible. Salty Senor has good taste.
20. Africa. The people, the simplicity of life, the wildness and the complete and total insanity of day-to-day existence. I feel my most useful and spiritual when I’m working on the dark continent.
21. Visiting the Cape of Good Hope.
22. Going to Prince concerts with my mom. She is an avid Prince fan and while this embarrassed the tar out of me during my adolescence, it just cracks me up as an adult.
23. Domesticity! Learning to sew, craft, knit, cook, garden and the true joy I receive from the craft blog world.
24. Public health. I love my field. I feel like this (and writing) are what I am meant to do and having that sense of purpose is an incredible stroke of luck.
25. Reading. My new current love is “Three Junes.” It is art on paper. I am reading it slowly to savor every word.
26. Flying through the Costa Rican jungle with Emily and John.
27. Mexico. I feel at home in this beautiful, culturally-rich country.
28. Giving gifts. This is one of the simple joys of life that makes me silly happy, including cooking for others.
29. Javier Bardem. Yum.
Life is good.
~K