It's August.
The political conventions are over. They have left me with sleepless nights and high blood pressure. And there are so many days to go of increasing nastiness and vicious side-taking.
I worry. I want us all to be okay.
I am from the Woodstock generation, after all. I thought -- for a very short time -- that we could all love each other.
But I will get through August.
I will find some serenity in the simple pleasures of high summer.
Here are 31 of my joys that will help me (and I hope you) get through the next 31 days.
- Corn on the cob
- Johnny Mathis singing "Wonderful, Wonderful" or "Misty" or "Chances Are" -- or just about anything
- Pearls
- "The African Queen"
- Black-eyed susans
- Chocolate ice cream
- Lobster rolls
- The last page of a great book, knowing another is waiting for me
- Dozing on a comfy lounge chair
- The cat sleeping in the sunny spot by the door
- Riding in the convertible on a starry night
- Sharing pretzels with the seagulls on the beach
- Pedicures with lavender polish
- Country fairs
- James Taylor
- Eau de Chloe
- Tomatoes still sun-warm eaten right from the garden
- Beaded sandals
- Putting on warm dry clothes after spending hours in a wet bathing suit
- Iced coffee
- Bronzing powder
- Buying my mother scratch-off lottery tickets
- My husband calling me Angel
- Little boys on bicycles with baseball gloves hanging from the handlebars
- The smell of charcoal and steaks wafting through the neighborhood
- Clean smooth sheets
- Blueberry picking in the late still afternoon
- Putting on Paul Simon's Graceland and dancing while I dust the house
- Cheeseburgers with a side of Ruffles
- Toddlers (and grown-ups) running through the water sprinkler
- My dog's smile
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Read more from Nancy at her blog "Not Quite Old".
Earlier on Huff/Post50: