Sometimes I find myself overcome by a surprise rush of happiness. It’s like warm puppy kisses and a wave of lightheadedness like from champagne with tiny bubbles.

Sometimes I’m surprised by the proximate cause. Upon my analysis I think there may be something wrong with me. So be it. I thought I’d share just a few of the things that make me inexplicably happy.

• Empty tupperware containers in the sink evidencing the enjoyment of leftovers when the Big Guy got home late last night.
• Pulling my red raincoat out of the closet.
• Every single time my friend posts anything about Mount Vernon on Facebook. He does it a lot, too.
• Trout on a menu. I might not eat it every time but am oddly ecstatic that it’s there.
• Wool socks that belonged to someone with big feet that shrunk to my size and because of the concentration of yarn have an extra deep layer of lamby, cushiony comfort.
• The Beast bounding to the door then stopping  just before he reaches me to turn around to find a toy to present as tribute.
• Grape potatoes.
• Hearing a Muzaked version of a Red Hot Chili Peppers song. It should, but does not, offend me.
• The strike of a match and smell of sulfur for the dinner candles.
• Texts from Baby Bear rueing the current state of political affairs.
• The fresh fish displayed on what looks like black marble in the case at The District Fishwife.
• Pulling the threads to open up the pocket on a new jacket. The moment when you pull that long string and the pocket is fully freed? That.
• Seeing the neighbor kid driving their folks’ car for the first time. Scary, too.
• Honey in a comb, especially if it sits next to the tasty mustard on my artisan charcuterie plate.
• The laser mouse for our TV. Every time I use it, I’m excited.
• A fourth grader opening a book they’re carrying then shoving their face between the pages as soon as they find a place to sit.
• Someone truly enjoying the music that I’m hearing from their headphones. Bonus if they’re singing–with or without sound. Quality of singing not a factor in my joy.
• Dogs sniffing and spinning and positioning their rumps to take a crap.
• The way the hinge rocks up and down on my ancient Wayfarers.
• The spouse, haloed by the lamp, sitting on the couch doing a crossword puzzle.
• People blindly walking down the street with their conference name tag. I well up in affection. Sometimes I suggest that they take it off. For safety’s sake.
• Peeling a slightly dried out clementine. There is a pleasure in the way that it almosts pops like a bubble as you pull away the peel.
• Someone flirting with me. I don’t care that his cologne is eau du piss and his bling is the jingle of coins in the cup he picked out of the trash. I’m still flattered.
• Hitting publish on a post.

Well, that last one isn’t so inexplicable, but I don’t really have much explanation for the rest.

I hope that you, too, My Loyal Reader, have simple things that make you inexplicably happy. Do share.