Every year around this time I get a little depressed and start feeling sorry for myself. I say it’s the impending day of fabricated love. All I know is what is true, and I will list it for you.

• Michael Jackson. No matter how old I get, he makes my heart throb
• Easter flowers. They bring me hope, and are so bright and just delicate enough
• The sound of a true gut laugh
• The smell of barbeque
• Old ladies who take care to pin their hair and wear jewelry
• People who wave
• Cupcakes with sprinkles
• Magnolias. They are so creamy and extravagant
• Friends that you can pick right back up with, even if it’s been ten years or more
• Books with a resolved ending
• Books about the south
• Books that are part fantasy
• Books that aren’t pretentious
• Cheap books
• Books
• People that will talk about books with me
• My dog. I love his spots and his big feet and his soft, soft ears.
• Pickles
• “As you wish”
• Big old trees
• Big old houses
• People sitting on porches playing cards
• My daily promenade around the block
• Going antiquing
• Looking at rocks (I’m not even going to try and describe this. I just like rocks)
• Being barefoot
• Tattoos
• Watching Gone With the Wind
• Mayfield Caramel Toffee Crunch Ice Cream
• Avocados
• Going to the Co-op. Honestly. It’s different now that I don’t work there. I can enjoy visitin’
• Swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. Some of you know exactly how much.
• Writing again
• All my navy shirts, and navy striped shirts <3
• The power, sleekness, and smoothness of Maggie
• My alpaca blanket
• TEXT MESSAGING: THE GREATEST INVENTION OF ALL TIME
• Peyton Manning
• Corkscrew pasta
• Box seats
• Shoes that are uncomfortably high, and unbelievably cute
• Fair food
• Turtles
• Clean bathrooms
• Riding a tall horse on a crisp day
• Absurd jokes
• The National Anthem
• Seeing people at work, either building or laboring on the farm. There’s an enjoyment there that is palatable
• Libraries
• Bookstores
• Quaint shops in small towns
• Street performers
• Unique jewelry
• New Orleans
• Savannah
• Greasy cheeseburgers
• “The Special”
• Showers with force
• Sweet Tea, Cupcake brand Moscato di Asti, and Mountain Dew
• Honeybees
• Unicorns
• Chick-fil-A
• Peonies
• The possibility of tomorrow, and finding more things to love

Now tell me yours. This is different than the thankfuls, although of course I AM thankful that all these things exist for me to enjoy.