I have been wanting to dig into one particular box in the attic for some time now. Even though I felt like crap tonight and didn’t want to do much beyond curl up under warm blankets, I took a deep breath and went for it. It was fun to open this time capsule full of my former journals and page through, reading snippets.
My first diary entry is July 22nd 1987. I have off and on writings, filling 8 or so books, spanning periods of my life from age 11 to now. It’s pretty monumental when I stop think about it. I should figure out some sort of diagram to show the writings on a timeline – an infographic showing intense periods of journaling as well as the gaps. That idea is going into Evernote right now.
The specific journal section I was looking for was something I started in the Summer after my freshman year at NYU – 1999. It was probably when 1000 things books first started hitting the shelves. It was not a prioritized list. It’s simply in the order that they popped into my head. You may not believe it, but yes, I am going to list them here. Really. If you get bored you can stop reading and close the window at any time. I promise not to write a profound closing. I will, however, provide snarky commentary as I think of it and strike through items that no longer make me happy. Enjoy.
- Blank books
- The end of a long beach day
- Chunky chicken stew with garlic, carrots and potatoes.
- Down pillows
- Little white Christmas lights all year long
- Basil plants
- Chamomile tea with honey and lemon
- Down comforters
- Angels the cover of this journal has angels on it
- The Jitters
Air conditionersit was my first sweltering summer in NYCPilot precise rolling ball pens .05 DK BlackI prefer ball points now, but still black- Enlargers (Photography)
- Cutting up a credit card in a creative shape
- Lava Lamps
- Chevy Blazers playing reggae music parked near a golf course
- Meteor showers at 3Am in cow pastures the second super specific childhood memory
- Sucking the nectar from ginger blossoms and wearing them in your hair this one still works for me
- Diving into piles of stuffed animals at FAO Swartz I never could spell. Especially East Coast last names
- Sunrooves In fact, I can’t spell anything!
- Painted toenails at slumber parties
- Feather beds I really do like bedding don’t I.
- Sunrise at Haleakala on New Years morning
- Possibilities
- The Future Not only am I getting philosophical, I am getting redundant
Linen clothingick!- Late night Ice cream boyages
- Bubble dropping and catching ceremonies no memory of this whatsoever but it sounds nice
- The sand between my toes except when I am not at the beach anymore
- Seeing my breath on a not-so-cold morning
- Lying in a field decorating oneself with daisies
Aerobeesover it- Popping your toes
- Finding out out that you are psychic is this hypothetical?
- Sleeping in your car in the middle of nowhere this could be a not-happy thing too, I think it was for fun…
- Q-Tips ok…
- Purple sand and green-blue water
- Warentees I meant Warranties, and who isn’t overjoyed when they get to call it in.
- Playing catch in the front yard
- Red cardigan sweaters w/white buttons
- Monopoly
- The smell of Northern California air in the fall or winter
- LEGOs
- Chipmunks
- Backflips into the waves
- Tiki Torches
- Autumn leaves pressed onto the pages of a fat book I found a few when I was flipping pages tonight.
- Sand Dollars
- Blue eyes
- Finding a dollar in an old pair of jeans Any denomination will do really.
- Watching Nancy inhale her Marlboros and speak spanish She was my roommate at the time, but I think this still would make me happy.
- Toasted Sesame bagel with cream cheese or butter I’d also take an everything bagel, but it has to be a NY bagel.
- Big calculators
- Grandma’s closet in your mom or dad’s old bedroom
Porcelin MineaturesAck! Clutter!- Beeker from Sesame Street and the muppet movies
James Taylor when you least expect itDouble Ack!- Annie As in the movie. This has found a renewed life, now that I watch it with Melody.
- Listening and accompanying Paula’s singing in the stairwell Other roommate
- Diaries
- The writing/graffiti under the top bunks at camp
- Ramen Noodles
- Big…No…Giant tree stumps
- The Grand Canyon by moonlight
- Toilet papering a car when the owner is home
- Fat Fuzzy Cats Allright, I’ll admit it, I don’t entirely despise my cats
- Red Wine duh.
- Cool lettering Except now I would call it typography. Allthough, looking at the photo above I might leave it at “lettering.“
- Stained wood floors
- The cool pattern the sunlight makes when it hits a swimming pool
- 4 leaf clovers When did I get one of these?
- Hand massages
Femo clayAlso, over it.- Broiler trays & pans (cooking supplies)
- Bare feet I think I meant having them, not seeing other peoples
- Sidewalk chalk and art
- Deposit slips Now that the ATM takes checks directly this kind of loses its meaning
- Marsha Edmonds and her dog My grandmother’s best friend down the block
- Messy artists pallets
- Fresh college-ruled notebooks Just about any school supply will do
- Stores that sell housewares
Using a mouse (computer)That strike through was in pen, I guess I edited this at some previous point.- Reggae concerts in Rodeo Arena
- A fat double plumeria lei
- Musibu Rampant Maui references
- Hand sewn pillows
- Bonfires
- The button for the penthouse in elevators
- Velvet red cushions and brass bars
- Ballet sheer wrap-around skirts
- Warm milk with honey and cinnamon Gotta try this again soon
- Soccer fields with a view
- To Do lists
Zip, The catHe’s long dead- Hands covered with oil pastels Again: MY hands.
- Barnes and Nobles Cafe This was when it first opening in Union Square NY, but I still like them.
- Cheese slicers So hard to find a good one of these
- White horses
- A Haku Lei
- Shaved Ice on Front Street with Red, Yellow and Blue
Cartoons in the middle of the night- Outdoor restaurants
- Cab rides down 5th Avenue at night Remember: 5th Ave NY. The Seattle one sucks.
- Aprons with funny slogans or pictures
- Mozzerella with fresh tomato and basil
- Baby pigs
- Standing on the roof of your car picking flowers from a tree and putten them in LG. paper bags
- Times Square after dark
- Van Gough’s Starry Night Seeing the original at Moma, not prints of it.
- Clear nail polish
- Fish Chasing (scuba diving)
- Miracle Thaw I bet this was toxic, because I never found one of these in the store.
- Bent up barbed wire fences
- Trampolines
- Madarin orange slices
- pictures or paintings of the ocean
- collages
- thick fragrant lotion
- daisy chains
- tripped out candles
- epcot center
- rose vines
- Rachel playing the harmonica Yep, another roommate
- Hearing my name in a song
- Adapting Oooh deep.
- Jumping off a small cliff or rise into a natural pool
- Nigh blooming cirrus in the moonlight
- Pool crashing at resorts
- Baby pictures
- Underground bands
- Dancing on picnic tables
- Back walkovers
- watching a word written in sand be erased by the lapping ocean foam
- Long distance phone calls
- Being ready for a test
- Pinia Coladas (virgin or regular)
- Sundresses with spaghetti straps
- Avapuhi near fresh water
- Late night hot tubbing under the stars
- Old baby t-shirts and shoes
- Pirate radio stations
- Pen pals
- Lunch breaks
- Giant Japanese beetles crawling across the porch
- Homemade Halloween costumes
- Avocado tress
- Bowtie noodles
- The smell of recycled Christmas trees I was referring to the smell of them being run through a chipper
- Riding your bike down a steep hill
- Rubber, $1.29 slippers I now call them flip-flops (shame!) and they cost more than that even at Longs Drugs
- Key Lime pie
- Avocado on french bread with garlic salt
- Water slides
- Locks of baby hair
- Cartwheels in the sand Doing cartwheels, not the wheels of a cart – that would be terrible
- Passing notes in class Now referred to as “texting”
- Mango slices in Lahaina
- Wrapping Christmas presents
- Roller coasters
- The hike at Hosmer’s Grove
- Gummy bears & worms Gummy Worms.
- Freshly ironed clothes
- Popcorn and home movies
- Terraces
- Ivy on brick (red) walls
The J-crew catalog- Monet’s Waterlillies Also only the real thing
- Purring
- Bugles (the snack food)
- Sunglasses
- Macaroni neclaces original spelling
- Fireworks shows on the beach
- Hot wet hand towels (scented) on airplanes
The “mad about you” sitcom theme song- Touristy keychains
- Mudbogging in the back of a 4 x 4
- Shortcuts
- Cucumber slices with soy sauce
- Towels straight from the dryer
- A new bathing suit
- Doodles on napkins
- Puppy dog eyes
- “Where the Wild Things Are”
- Suburbia from the airplane view
- Coconut milk straight from the coconut I love that I can buy coconut water now
- Silhouettes against a sunset
- The sounds of crashing waves mixed with the hum of a ceiling fan
- Jelly Belly bean combinations
- Husband pillows What!?!
- Cottage cheese
Tao Sandles- Drinking games
- the smell of cocobutter
- Rollerblading
- Waking up early in a panic realizing it’s Saturday This could use a few more words to make it sound right
- Street Musicians
- Palm tree shadows
Kiwis- Bright white table cloths with white stiff napkins
- Presto logs
- Afternoon naps
- Getting things done Talk about contradictory.
Popsicle sticksRegina ruined this one for me.- Beach glass
- Puka shells
- Sunlight at the right angle to show dust clouds in an empty room
- Tree houses
- Piano bars
- Black and white post cards
- Not getting carded
- People weaving hats out of Palm fronds and coconut leaves
- Old European Fountains
- Humming birds
- Thunderstorms
Concert ticket stubsAck! More clutter!- Brie cheese and Carrs crackers
- Roadside fruit stand honor boxes
- Bamboo forests
- Reggios Cafe at 1 Am
- Skylights
- Elija Wood in “The War” I have no memory of this performance
- Rope swings
- Black Jazz musicians in smokey rooms
- Class organized coffee houses
- Room service
- A baked potato on a rainy day
- Tan skin with freckles
Steel DrumsTom HATES them, ruined it for me.
- Big lawns mowed by other people
- Florence, Italy
- Guitar music I could be more specific here
- Playing hopscotch Tried this recently and yep, still works.
- Lincoln logs
- Riding in shopping carts Haven’t tried this one in a while
- Skimboarders
Indigo Girls Concerts- Laughing so hard you can’t breathe
- Unexpected waterfalls I would say any waterfall will do
- Candlelight dinners
- Soft breezes
Tapes and CDs of nature sounds- Christmas songs
- Golf cart joy rides
- Ani Difranco when someone has pissed me off
- Lots & Lots & Lots of Flowers
- Dropping hints
- Coincidence I think I meant Serendipity
- Having your wallet returned with all your money in it
- Sand toys
- Night Air
- Soft worn out jeans
- the Tasmanian devil
- Commercials with babies
- The ripples in calm pools
- The doorbell
- Miracles
- Roof gardens
- Office supplies
- Brunch
- Being very very clean
- Funky hairclips
- Coffee mugs
- Bear hugs
- Not having to do anything
- Dreaming and remembering them
- Seeing famous people
- Zippos
Overalls- New underwear
Playing pool and laughing at how badly you are doing- Cuddling
- Watching “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” Insert 1% joke here
- A full moon
Long floral dresses with combat boots- The Milky Way
- Cliffs over the ocean
- Driving through tunnels and the superstitions that go with them
- Nostalgia
- Silver rings
- When – saying it. Saying”when” when somebody is pouring a drink and says “Say When”
- Pigtails
- Red from Fraggle Rock
- “Hakuna Matata”
- Antiques
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Winne the Pooh and Tigger Too
- The Great Pumpkin
- Werthers candies
- “The Neverending Story”
White Tigers- Mama’s Fish House
- The sounds that Gekos make
- Moonbows
- Skinny dipping
- Really soft comfortable couches and arm chairs
- Jumbo shrimp
- 8 hour conversations
- Playing in the rain and splashing in puddles How cute.
- Familiar faces Except when I forget their names
Men in uniform- Piano Music
- Learning to Ski with cute instructors
- Bedtime stories
- Bubble Baths by candle light
- A full tummy (comfortably full that is)
Archery- Cuddling fat fuzzy cats REPEAT!
- Guava fights
- Soft voices over late night phone calls
- Footsteps in the snow
Riding a galloping horse down a dirt road- Drink umbrellas
- Pointsettas
- Flannel plaid pajamas
Steel DrumsREPEAT!- Pumpkin Pie
- Teaching yourself something new
- A lazy day
in my overalls - Pesto pasta
- Boat rides
- Street Fairs
- Tickle fights
- Pillow fights
- Food Fights
- Large sunken tubs
- Pillow Fights Wow, really. That soon?
- Thunder Storms Ok this is getting rediculous
- Making a snowman
- Birthday cakes with my name on them
- Snow Fights Apparently I like throwing things at people.
- Friendly bartenders Take note Seattle.
- When everything around me is brilliant green
- Being weightless in water
- White birds
- Homemade quilts
Tobi’s- Really good Tiramisu
- Suspenders
Theme restaurants- A good deal
Conversations with strange cab drivers- When I remember to bring my umbrella
- Apple pie ala mode
- Islands in the distance
Dirty dancing- Silence
- The wind through iron wood trees
- Coral reefs
- John Fluvog shoes
- Christmas ideas
- Carrie’s mom
- Good advice
- Mocachino
- Telling stories about Hawaii
- Opening night
- Dancing in the dark
- The view from my window
- Banana pancakes
- A good serve (tennis)
- New shoes
- Crafts
- Travel plans
- Good horoscopes
- Drawing for hours at a time
- Free Time
- Newstands
- Care packages
- Castles
- Mango tea
Vitaminsreally?Power BarsRaspberry or Passion Fruit Snapple- The Staten Island ferry on a summer night
- Tulips
- Killians Red beer in a pint glass
- The Brooklyn Bridge in the rain
Double BedsI am on to Queen sized now.- Having someone make you breakfast
- Funny emails and now posts or tweets
- “Homeward Bound” the song
Songs about AngelsWhat’s with the angels?- A job well done
- Standing up for myself
- A good sweat Now we are really getting somewhere
- Dance class
- Teaching someone the basics of hula
- A long run on the esplanade at dusk
- Long walks arm in arm
- eating outdoors
- hiking with mom
Smoking a cigar witha beer- Getting in free
- Black and white photography
- Bringing a friend an unexpected treat I need to do this one more often
Getting paged.Mwuahhahaha.- Ending it gracefully
- “SALE! 50-70% off!”
- Cherries – fresh picked
- Speeding up around the corners (driving)
- Little hamsters in those clear rolling balls
- Bonding with my little brother
- Sharing a Lazy Boy recliner that is
- Using a tree trunk as a back rest
- Tostones
- Creatively painted chairs and tables
- Black strappy sandles
- That centered peaceful feeling Like after yoga!
- Falling asleep in the sun
- Clove cigarettes
- Russian stacking dolls
Dancing at the TunnelIt’s in NYC. What a nightmare!- Happy couples
- “Starry Starry Night” – the song
- Looking good first thing in the morning
- Thai Iced Tea
- Fresh spring rolls
- Giant blackberries
- Pachelbel’s Canon emanating from the rooftops
- Lunar eclipses
- The moment when the Yankees won the world series in 1993 and people flooded into the streets
- A new friend
- Brunch in the West Village
- The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
- Fat free sour cream
- Big plush bathrobes
- Fort Tryon Park on a sunny day
- Illuminated manuscripts
- The Unicorn Tapestries I think this was after a visit to the Cloisters
- Good deeds
- Long piers
- The Manhattan skyline
- My reading area
- Setting the clocks back
- Having my hair played with
- Movies about artists
- Inspirational speeches
Feed seagullsRats with wings- The feel of fine fabrics
- Me time
- Sideburns And this is what I end with?
I have so many more things now that make me happy. Things that include stuff in Seattle, things my daughter does, the miracles of technology. Maybe I will keep this aside in another doc and keep it as a live document.
Love the avocado on french bread idea…and milk with cinnamon and honey…
totally awesome list. i could never come up with that much. i’ve got a bucket list with 160+ items on it. I seem to get 6 or 7 of them done a year.
Thanks Sherry. I don’t actually have a bucket list. These are all things I have already experienced. I’ll need to make a bucket list for sure. Good suggestion!
ok. so I admit I scanned right to the bottom after reading your opening to see how far you got, then scrolled backwards, seemingly most interested in observing the things that changed (or were commented on). I expect when I’m not busy at work, I’d love to pour over this list with a drink in hand, would be even funner to do it WITH you.
#274, I can see you rock that look in 1999
#215, dammit. I still keep mine (they are SO few…)
#189, HaHaHa
#174, dork!
#35, d’oh
#12, love it… any specific pen preference is something I can totally relate to;-)
Lol. Yeah. It took me forever. I am adding more now.
[…] to list 1000 things that make me happy. It was back in 1996-ish and I doubt I made it to 1000. I plan to dig that up in November and review it. I will be sure to add walking with chickens to the list. I will also be sure to take some pictures […]