Susan Senator

A friend just blogged her top ten things that keep her happy to be alive. I love to do that, so here are mine, in no particular order:

1) Finding out that I was pregnant (March 1989, July 1991, August 1997)
2) Seeing/smelling my babies for the first time
3) The glorious April day/night in 1982 Ned went from friend to boyfriend
4) Being close to my sister Laura (lately better than ever)
5) Having parents who are (alive, thank God), fairly cool, and fun to be with (when not bugging me)
6) The day my agent sold my book
7) The day of thaw (every year) when I realize winter is truly over
8) The first time I gave a talk and realized I was good at it
9) Realizing we were going to buy this house
10) My new, very intense friend — you know who you are — no guessing, please

Others:
1) The first trip (every year) to the ocean after the winter
2) When Nat learned to read
3) Learning that Benj was “normal but stubborn” after his eval.
4) When I told Max about God, when he was three, and he said, “I like him.”
5) The gorgeous moment when Ned finally agreed to marry me*

*To be blogged, explained, and given its due at a later date.