Happiness
I’ve been pretty good about updating the blog of late - and this is something about which I feel a disproportionate sense of pride. But now it’s been since last Wednesday since I wrote a post (I’m not counting the automatic Twitter posts) and the pressure is on to keep the good blogger streak going.
The problem is that tonight, for whatever reason, I just can’t think of anything to say. Susane Colasanti put up a great post today about a few things that brought her happiness. I’m all about gratitude for the little things, and since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, here goes. Some things that make me happy, a la Susane:
1. Well, I’ll start with Susane Colasanti herself, yet another friend I would not have were it not for uber-author David Levithan, the de facto social chair of the YA writing world. My first important conversation with Susane was about cupcakes. She’s totally with me on the deliciousness of Crumbs, though she’s way more experimental about it - going for flavors like Caramel Apple and Peanut Butter Cup, while I stick to the simple Chocolate Frosted. Susane thinks I should broaden my horizons, but really, why deviate from perfection? Also Susane maintains that Sprinkles (at this point, unavailable in New York) brings cupcake deliciousness to a whole new level. Sprinkles is opening in the city in two short months, so game on.
2. Clearly, cupcakes make me happy too.
3. As do Elizabeth Eulberg and Sarah Mlynowski - I had dinner with Susane and them last night. No cupcakes were consumed, but brownies were, and pizza and guacamole and other tasty things. Sarah hosted us and it felt like a very grownup night. Or maybe at this age I shouldn’t be so super impressed by dining off real plates, and sitting at the big table to eat instead of gathering around the coffee table. But I am: See, it’s the little things. I also discovered that Elizabeth has the same tendency to say, “No, no, no, no, no” that Arielle and I do, when disagreeing with someone else’s point (we also say, “yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah” when agreeing) … and apparently it’s catching because by the end of the night, Susane and Sarah were doing it too.
4. And another new writing friend, Lauren Oliver, who I saw earlier this week. While we were chatting she got an email that her latest book, Delirium, is #6 on the New York Times Bestseller List! I love when great things happen to books - and authors - I adore!
5. The other day someone asked me what my favorite thing about myself was. Without hesitation, I said “my friends.” Then I worried that there was something wrong with me. Shouldn’t I be able to find my favorite thing inside myself rather than outside? But the more I think about it, the more I know it’s the right answer. My friends are talented, kind, funny, fabulous, life-changing, world-changing people. And since friendships are a two-way street, they picked me to be their friend too. It’s the greatest compliment a girl could get, because it means they must see something worthwhile inside me. I can’t put into words how happy and grateful I am for that.
6. This true story, called “The Kindest of Strangers,” that Dana Reinhardt wrote about Robert Downey Jr., who I’ve long had a crush on and now I love even more.
7. Lady Gaga’s new song “Born This Way.” I actually downloaded it the day it was released, which might just be the most cutting-edge I’ve ever been. Some people say it sounds like Madonna’s “Express Yourself.” You know what? I don’t care. I love that song too. I have room for both in my life.
8. Speaking of Gaga, this is seriously the cutest thing: My godson Brody is really into her music, ever since I burned a CD for him and Madden. Last week I picked Brody up from school as a surprise, and when he saw me he burst into song. “Walk, walk fashion, baby!” he cried. (“Bad Womance," as he calls it, is his favorite song, and thankfully, he didn’t shout out the line that comes next.)
My dad just called. I told him what I was writing and he said, “You’ve done posts about happiness before.” I guess I’m a derivative blogger. But he’s also told me in the past that as long as I’m happy, he’s happy, so I think it’s okay.