Gratitudes

As Delia and I got into the car this morning, she knocked the little mirror off I have that clips to the rear view mirror. "Oh, sorry!"

I fished the mirror up from between the seats and snapped it back into the little ball-and-gizmo socket that reattached it. "No problem."

"How long have you had that thing?"

"Since the two of you were babies."

"Really? You've had it that long?"

"Yeah." I like my little mirror. I got it because it angles differently than the rear view mirror, allowing you to see into the back seat. Perfect for keep an eye on restless toddlers. In fact, it's sold by a company that makes baby paraphenalia for kids. "It's amazing how such a little thing can be so useful and can improve your life so much."

I thought about that as I got out of the car, closed the garage door, and locked it. "Tell you what," I said, getting back in. Everytime we start out for the moment, let's name something we're grateful for." We've both been re-reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project and have been thinking about how suggestion that one should list their gratitudes daily.

"I'm grateful for my new guitar," said Delia.

"I'm grateful that I get to vote today."

"That's a good one."

"Yes, it is."

(For those of you in South Minneapolis voting today, here are naomikritzer's endorsements for the election, down to the soil and water commission. Always useful and entertaining. For the rest of you, they're entertaining.)