with a little help from my friends...

Today's post is going to be a thankful one. Once again, I had a rough weekend.
These things made me smile despite it:
-constant messages from my Mom and sister
-strength from my Dad, even when he is at a low
-text messages from Caitie, Mackenzie, Lydia, and Skylar
-facebook love from Nora, Skylar, Lydia, Andy, Mackenzie, Sam,
-G-chat check-ins from Lily & Nicole
-encouraging messages from Kristina, even though she was having a rough work day
-distraction and conversation with Stephanie
-a handwritten note from Skylar
-a long and helpful message from Matthew, after my blabbering email to him
-similar, work-email blabbering to Lydia
-inquiries from Clay
-Monday night volunteering
-talking with Sonia
-a check-in text from Ajay
-a total of 3 hours on the phone with Mackenzie on Sunday
-a hilarious voice mail from Cecil
-Lauren, offering distractions and lots of laughter (thanks to Elisabeth & Madi, too)
-voice mails and emails from my aunt and uncle in D.C.
-simultaneous text messages from Kam & Mary Jo


Of course, this post is not meant to exclude anybody. There were several more things that made me smile. Instead this post is serving more as a reminder of what I have to be thankful for. And...it's a lot.

"cancer sucks!"

Things that make me smile:
-The Pierce County AIDS Walk
-Friends uniting for a cause
-The view of downtown Tacoma from the Glass Bridge
-Bollywood movies
-Good singing in the car
-The Mandolin Cafe
-Inspiration from the Susan G.Komen 3-Day for the Cure
-thousands of women, clad in pink, ready to conquer cancer
-meeting completely random people and bonding

"digest, ladies!"

Things that make me smile:
-Lauren and Brittany's full on guffaws
-Keeling over laughing on the side of the road
-Leavenworth: what a cute town!!
-Strategic eating
-Long (and personal!) conversations in public places, haha
-Tying loose ends
-Energy for the year to come
-Downtown Seattle on a sunny Sunday
-Whole Foods
-Tutta Bella. Yum.

Mid-Week Seattle Hangout

Things that make me smile:
-Driving with Lyd
-Shannon on full-speed chatter mode
-Dinner downtown
-Random Gas Works expeditions
-laughter and sharing of stories

necessary

Things that make me smile:
-singing
-texts from my sister
-remembering that people care
-unexpected card blog following!
-my friends who make me feel better (thanks, lyd & skylar)
-caramel apple cider. okay, okay...it can be fall :)
-my co-workers
-stephanie's mind/my mind = twins
-this campus

refresh

Things that make me smile:
-Friday afternoons
-surprise calls opening up new opportunities
-The Woodland Park Zoo
-nights out on the town with the single girls
-having fun, and not feeling bad about it
-laughter, memories, reconnecting
-sleeping in (it doesn't happen often!)
-the gym on a Sunday
-family style meals with friends
-successful weekends and a new found appreciation for the present
-long phone calls with skylar

"it's okay, we're on vacation"

Things that make me smile:
-packing for a vacation you can't wait for
-pre-vacation nights. it's like christmas eve for a child.
-landing, when you know you're about seeing loved ones
-those first reunion hugs, smiles, and sharing of stories
-the unbreakable bond between my London loves.
-our strange sense of humor
-talking to griffin in an indian accent
-griffin, kristina, and stephanie's laughter
-nancy & robert and their amazing beach-style home
-laguna beach. what a cute little town full of culture and great food
-being on the beach by the ocean. i want to live by the ocean one day.
-PG :)
-our inside jokes that grow in number throughout reunions, yet never cease to make us laugh
-how we're all laughing from the minute we wake up
-wearing bandanas and looking ridiculous
-delicious food. tacos, indian, waffles, thai, pinkberry, sprinkles, yum.
-hand-holding and hugging. lots of it.
-drunken, crazy adventures
-how we all feel the same way about our group


Things that don't make me smile:
-leaving them and the horribly foul mood that comes afterward.