1. getting a postcard in the mail
2. peach cobbler with generous splashes of rum and brandy
3. daylilies
4. talking on the phone to people who love me
5. the sound of freshly-popped popcorn in a covered frying pan
6. catching a cute guy’s eye
7. curly hair that doesn’t frizz in the humidity
8. unexpectedly-good advice from a surprising source
9. hot whole-wheat toast with butter
10. surprises
11. bedroom carpets covered in vacuum tracks
12. taking pictures of people I love, flowers in bloom, the curiosity of animals, strangers I have yet to meet
13. the smell of sunscreen
14. first kisses
15. music that makes me dance uninhibitedly in the streets
16. jumping into the deep end
17. hugs when you need them most
18. sun-drenched raspberries and strawberries fresh-picked off the bush in whipped cream
19. bedroom slippers, wearing them without socks
20. laughing so hard my body rocks
21. fish tacos with all the fixins’
22. the energy of writing so hard and so fast that your brain and your writing self is 10 miles ahead of your slowly tapping fingers
23. playing squash in a skirt
24. heated floors, near a swimming pool or in a hotel bathroom
25. drinking water
26. learning new words that spark with ancient knowledge
27. scented candles, even sweeter if they are lit
28. cute boys in tight jeans
29. cracking open a new dictionary, the sudden weight of language in my lap
30. standing up for myself
31. walking through the rain without an umbrella
32. a strong cup of Great Canadian Coffee with cream and sugar
33. handwritten notes
34. sipping German white wine, Blue nuns and Rieslings on a Thursday night
35. resisting temptation
36. roasted red pepper hummus
37. camping in a tent
38. unexpected gifts of kindness: shoulder rubs and foot massages, a candid conversation or smile
39. lacy bras that fit properly
40. celebrating Canadian artists of all shapes and sizes
41. learning about holistic health and natural remedies
42. being counted on
43. Fido commercials: all of them!
44. cleanliness
45. chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven
46. afternoon naps
47. Jamie Oliver (unfortunately, not the man himself but rather his cooking)
48. waking up next to the one you love
49. new shoes
50. translating a particularly difficult passage successfully
51. shopping, spending my hard-earned cash
52. French boys with English accents
53. vigorous morning sex
54. seeing Bert & Ernie, a pair of groundhogs, on my walk to work
55. writing when the rest of the neighbourhood is sound asleep
56. road trips
57. new movies at the theatre: thrillers, suspense, mysteries, dramas if they aren’t rooted in the psyche
58. the smell of freshly cut grass
59. news, current events – knowing the world is picking up, not plodding on
60. sarcasm
61. the lush feel of satin on my wrist
62. sunshine on a winter morning
63. poetry, william carlos williams’ the red wheelbarrow
64. herbal teas
65. the acrid smell of campfires in the mad heat of summer
66. making it home before the rain starts
67. fresh cut flowers
68. cotton clothing
69. Southern-style cornbread, perspiring hot straight from the oven, with real Peaches & Cream corn and fresh basil
70. greedy kisses, taking more than you give in return
71. firefighters, police officers, nurses, doctors – all men in uniform
72. staying in a hotel
73. Sunday brunch
74. tiramisu cheesecake
75. medicine, making the world a healthier place
76. communication on the same wavelength
77. grocery shopping in an empty grocery
78. a special room to write and be productive in
79. second chances
80. using the body’s natural resistance to stretch into Pilates positions
81. my crazy family
82. crisp green sheets, the relaxing colour of sage
83. homemade pancakes with extra butter for dinner
84. reading on a rainy Sunday afternoon
85. getting the school marks I earned
86. hash browns
87. aromatherapy bubble baths
88. watching The Food Network till the wee hours of the morning
89. reading romance novels sprawled on the grass on a Sunday summer afternoon
90. having a handle on stressful situations
91. libraries for safeguarding the world’s literary gems
92. smoothies
93. people who don’t interrupt
94. spending a weekend at a cottage
95. singing along to the radio
96. unexpected wit, deadpan humour
97. being able to wear running shoes
98. traveling to faraway places, in person or in my imagination
99. finishing a piece of writing and having the courage to let someone else read it
100. the hard fast plunge of falling in love
101. home
