Who are you Evelyn Arrue?

I checked out Cannery Row from the Princeton Public Library yesterday and found inside the book the receipt from the previous reader of the book. Turns out Evelyn checked out Cannery Row on February 18th. This was her only book but she also checked out several cds.

Good News for People Who Love Bad News by Modest Mouse
First Impressions of Earth by The Strokes
Where We Stand by Yellowcard
Hot Fuss by The Killers

All in all not a bad selection of material but surprising coming from someone named Evelyn. I mean, my grandma was named Evelyn. Kind of an old lady’s name, isn’t it? And as I stare at her receipt from February 18th, I wonder what Evelyn thought of the book and music. I also wondered how much I bored on being labeled a stocker since I wanted to now know what every person checked out from the library. I want a look into their lives, I guess. I think it’s interesting to look at a receipt from someone I’ve never met (from the library, from Target, the grocery store) and contemplate who they are based on what products they consume (ie books, music, hair gel, canned fruit, ink pens).

I also wonder what other people might think about the products I consume. I guess I think I’m kind of normal but what if Evelyn saw my receipt. She’d probably say, I never expected someone named Mike to be literate.

Anyway, it’s been a month since I updated the books I’ve been reading. In all honest, I’ve only really been reading for the last two weeks because of time constraints. I believe my quest to read 43 books this calendar year is going to fall short. But here’s what I’ve read so far:

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck

I hope to get one more book read tomorrow. Deanna and I are heading back to Missouri via Niagara Falls/Toronto/Michigan Upper Peninsula/Twin Cities on Thursday. We should be in Missouri by Monday or Tuesday. By the time anyone checks this, we’ll probably be back in New Jersey, which will be approximately August 17th. In which case, enjoy your new school year.

Deanna is interning at a nursing home this summer and tonight we were talking about people getting old and maybe what life is like at an old age. At any rate, because I starting thinking about old people I’ve also begun thinking about my own death and I’ve come to a few conclusions that you might find startling. Rather than continue with this mindless babble, I’ll dispense with my conclusions.

If I avoid fatal accidents in my life and if God does not kick in His rapture and I am afforded the opportunity to live into a ripe old age, I believe that I will die in June of 2064 making me 86, just a month from turning 87. Wait, what? Where did that number come from? Why 2067 you may ask, and how come specifically in June of 2067? Let me be brief with explanation.

My Grandpa Womack died when he was 78 caused by complications from years upon years of smoking. My Grandma Womack died when she was 83, almost 84. My other grandpa died when my mom was four so it’s weird even typing “my other grandpa” and I have no idea when he died. And my Grandma Clawson wasn’t a very nice grandma and I can’t honestly remember how old she was although I think she was 78, 82, or 83.

Anyway.

I think I’ll live to see 86 because the average of my grandparents’ lives is about 81. And the way I figure it, medicine will grant me a couple extra years to kick around. So that puts me just out of reach of 87. And I’m not about to go out in a cold month because (1.) I hate cold weather and (2.) I’m a pretty thoughtful guy and don’t want to make people stand outside in winter.

Thus, June 2067.

And if I’m wrong, I figure it like this: If I die too early I go out saying “See, I don’t always procrastinate.” If I live past June 2067 I go out saying, “Hey, at least I exceeded expectations.” And if I die precisely as I predicted I’ll go out with, “See, I told you so. I’m one smart old fart,” because old people are commonly referred to as “farts” and often times it is found to be humorous.

That gives me roughly 22,280 days left on Earth, give or take a leap year and some miscalculations.

That I can live with.

I know I said the next update would be about all the books I’m trying to read this summer. I guess I lied. Maybe that will be the NEXT next update. And anyway, few people actually still read this and other than Rich, no one else really even cares about what I read.

Actually, it’s important to explain why I’m writing what I’m writing. It’s 1:10 in the morning here and I can’t sleep. I was lying in bed and couldn’t sleep. And for a reason unbeknownst to me, I started thinking about all the simple things in life that make me happy.

And with that I’ve turned away two readers.

But honestly, I’ve never put down on paper what makes me feel good even though lots of things do. I’ve never tried to pin-point what makes me genuinely happy. And at 1:10 in the morning, I can think of nothing better to do than type up this list. So here goes. My list of simple things that make me happy. And I won’t feel offended if you just look at the reasons and not the explanations. Cause really, how am I going to know?

1. Peanut Butter and Jelly
Yes, I’m well aware that this is ridiculous. But there is something about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that makes me feel like I’m ten…actually, it’s probably because that’s what the major food of ten year olds is. It’s comfort food. I kinda want one right now.

2. Scrubs (the tv show, not the clothes)
Why does this make my list? Because I have never seen an episode that didn’t make me laugh out loud and reflect on some part of life. I got Scrubs, The Complete First Season for my birthday (still a few weeks away) from my In-Laws and want to run out to buy the rest of the show on DVD as well. Anyway…

3. Playing soccer with the kids in Mexico
As probably everyone knows, Deanna and I lived in Mexico last summer. We served as the mission leaders for youth groups that came down from the states. It was such a difficult job managing a group of 20-30 strangers and trying not to get anyone killed or lost while dealing with some difficult personalities. We worked almost non-stop. But in the evenings and on weekends, all the Mexican kids in the neighborhood came out to the street and played. I had the opportunity to play with these great kids for three months and ever night I had to force myself to come inside. It was awesome.

4. Cookies and Crème ice cream from Halo Farms
Lord knows I can’t get enough. One bight is all you really need to understand my addiction. It’s so good.

5. Movies with extras after the credits
Stupid? Maybe. But Deanna and I almost always sit through all the credits in movie. I’m not really sure why. We did it once and seven years later, we still do. Normally there’s nothing at the end except the assurance that no animals were harmed during filming. But some movies give you something extra. Like Pirates of the Caribbean. Our friends wanted to leave and I insisted that we stay. I’m glad we did. There’s just a little satisfaction in seeing something that maybe one other couple stayed to see.

6. Life of Pi and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
Life of Pi is only my second favorite book but every time I think back to it, I remember how much I really liked it and how it made my day reading it. And the Amazing Adventures sits on a bookshelf in our bedroom normally. It’s probably a top 10 book. But there is something about it sitting there every night that I really like. Who knows?

7. Waking up without an alarm
These days are few, but I absolutely love waking up whenever I feel inclined and not being rushed or having to think of all the things that need to be done before the day is over.

8. Playing video games at all times of the night with friends
I really like playing video games way latter in the evening than I know is good for me. I am exhausted, normally, but feel like I spent my time doing exactly the best thing I could have at the time I did it. What else could I do at 2 in the morning? Sleep? That’s about it. And when playing with friends, well, I just can’t think of a better way to bond or spend a night.

9. Lists
Probably that’s why I’m writing a list. But I like to look at lists of things. Could be anything. The population lists of cities in Virginia. The ranking of tennis players on the tour. The most important ingredients in cereal. Whatever, so long as it’s numbered and in order.

10. The feeling I get after I’ve run for a while
I just feel healthy and alive and tired. I feel like I was productive.

11. Air-Conditioning
Not because it’s cold, which it is, but because it feels like it’s fake air and that reminds me of summer, which I love. It puts me in a happy place.

12. Talking about things that really matter
Unlike this list, I really feel excited after a conversation about something other than the weather, movies, sports, or books. I like talking about the educational gap in America, the issues and concerns of immigrants in the U.S., why being a Christian is so much more than what most people think. Sometimes these same issues depress me, but I still like talking about them.

13. Concerts
I love live music. Makes me feel young, which I am.

14. My old tee-shirts
Most are from high school into college and all have meaning to me. I like wearing my shirt that Dan and Lauren made and having to explain its meaning to those people who think it’s a reference to a rap group. I like it when people stare at my shirt that says “Play Underground” and think that it has some deep meaning when really it doesn’t. I like my high school tennis shirt even though it’s only good enough for an undershirt now. These shirts really make me smile.

15. Feeling of nostalgia
I’ll end with this one since I’ve gone on too long as it is. Sometimes nostalgia makes me sad. But often times not. I like remembering memories from good times in the past. I know I’ve probably doctored them up in my mind I know they weren’t all happy, either. But I like remembering the times I’ve spent doing stupid things with the guys, talks in the car with friends, events that, in the moment, seemed insignificant, but in retrospect made my day. I like nostalgia a lot.