View Full Version : Best day of your entire life?
Okay, I got a fun question for you.
What was the best day of your life -- the single best day of your entire existence?
Tell the story of that day if you'd like to share.
I wish I had my diaries up here in NJ (couldn't fit them in my car) because I would be able to easily answer that questions. One of my "best days" was in high school, and if I recall correctly, it had to do with getting a good grade, my hair looking good, the most popular girl in school complimenting me on the outfit I was wearing (which I had sewn myself), my Latin teacher agreeing with me, and getting the leading role in the Senior Play. That was a very good day.
I'm sure you realize your question is impossible to answer--and my true answer can only be answered in the context of the message of my favorite play "Our Town"--the best day is the day you simply pay attention.
I wish I had my diaries up here in NJ (couldn't fit them in my car) because I would be able to easily answer that questions. One of my "best days" was in high school, and if I recall correctly, it had to do with getting a good grade, my hair looking good, the most popular girl in school complimenting me on the outfit I was wearing (which I had sewn myself), my Latin teacher agreeing with me, and getting the leading role in the Senior Play. That was a very good day.
I'm sure you realize your question is impossible to answer--and my true answer can only be answered in the context of the message of my favorite play "Our Town"--the best day is the day you simply pay attention.
Impossible to answer? Sure. Also entirely frivolous. I assure you that attempting something simultaneously frivolous and impossible can be fun!
Impossible to answer? Sure. Also entirely frivolous. I assure you that attempting something simultaneously frivolous and impossible can be fun!
Absolutely--but it's not easy! So I'll stick with that day in high school.
And yesterday, when I shared FB conversation with my GI neighbors, and my son asked me to join him at the Intervale Thursday dinner, and my other son came up to the island, and I heard from two friends on a particular site that we are both familiar with, and I walked down to the dock to watch the sun set...
It was the best day of my life.. yesterday.
I remember a perfect day a few years ago. I didn’t go to work that day. I was home. It was the perfect blend of life - some good food, some cleaning up around the house, some reading, some time with family, some time spent outside. I might have had a short nap. I went to bed thinking I had just lived the most perfect well balanced day.
It depends...
With the little guy that I mentor, it was the day that he beat me, fair and square, in a game of chess. He was so pleased and I was so proud of him. I have mentored him for 5 years teaching him so many different things and watching this delightful little boy just bloom with delight.
DH and I went x-country skiing after a fresh snowfall with brilliant blue skies and sunshine and we skied under an extended bower of trees bending over the trail sparkling with snow.
With my kids, too many memories that are priceless and perfect, for that day as Cath said.
DGS, at a play in Niagara on the Lake's Shaw Festival.
This summer, while resting on my lounger, my little dog was sitting beside me, I was listening to my music, smelling the fragrance of the flowers, listening to the birds with a magazine in hand and enjoying the warm early evening and thinking, I am so grateful for this day.
Our wedding day. We had just turned 19. HS sweethearts. We were surrounded by family and friends. We couldn't stop smiling. It was a wonderful ceremony in a packed church followed by photos in the city park across the street. Then the party. Dad threw the traditional Dutch reception with food, drinking and dancing. We had a fantastic celebration.
39 years later we are happier than ever and best friends in this adventure called life. 6/21/80-the day this adventure began.
Sad Eyed Lady
8-2-19, 9:42am
There is one day in my life, in the early 70's, that when I think of it or refer to it just seems magical. That day was shared with DH and he always agreed that it felt that way to him too. Early 70's, we had been married just a few years and were broke as newlyweds often were back then. We wanted to go on "vacation" but had no money, so we had a one day vacation at a local place not far from us. I made a lunch that we packed in a cooler, drove to our destination and spent the day at various touristy activities/sites, and ate our picnic lunch. On the way home it starting raining and we saw an old man walking beside the road, so we stopped and gave him a ride. Then before we got home we passed a truck that my grandfather was riding in and I remember smiling and waving at him.
So you see, nothing outstanding, except that day has stood out all these years later as a purely magical day. That feeling is not just in hindsight as some of our memories are, but it felt so then and has all these many years later.
Fun thread, I love reading all these responses.
There is one day in my life, in the early 70's, that when I think of it or refer to it just seems magical. That day was shared with DH and he always agreed that it felt that way to him too. Early 70's, we had been married just a few years and were broke as newlyweds often were back then. We wanted to go on "vacation" but had no money, so we had a one day vacation at a local place not far from us. I made a lunch that we packed in a cooler, drove to our destination and spent the day at various touristy activities/sites, and ate our picnic lunch. On the way home it starting raining and we saw an old man walking beside the road, so we stopped and gave him a ride. Then before we got home we passed a truck that my grandfather was riding in and I remember smiling and waving at him.
So you see, nothing outstanding, except that day has stood out all these years later as a purely magical day. That feeling is not just in hindsight as some of our memories are, but it felt so then and has all these many years later.
Fun thread, I love reading all these responses.
That's a beautiful "best day"--thanks for sharing it.
I remember one day when I was traveling in England--I was there for Junior Year Abroad. We wanted to see the moors of the Brontes but we didn't realize what a convoluted public transit journey it was. We had to take a train to York, then a train to Leeds and then a bus to Haworth, and then walk up to the Bronte sisters' father's parsonage.
By the time we got there it was dark--pitch dark. We saw a woman in the church and we asked her where the moors were. She cautioned us against going up there at that time, but she pointed us in the direction, and we headed off.
We walked up the hills until we got to a spot where the heather was literally swooshing around our calves in the wind, but we couldn't even see it. What we could see was the town's twinkling lights down below, silhouettes of horses on hills further up and directly above us millions of stars. It was silent except for the swooshing (and I THINK I did hear Heathcliff calling 'Cathy!' :), and it was dark except for lights below and the gloaming above. It was a truly mystical moment and my best travel memory by far.
So, I'm not sure if it qualifies as a "best day" but it was a truly memorable, wonderful day--thanks SEL, for jogging my thoughts.
I am going to attempt to tell the story of my best day (or what was certainly one of my best days).
I found a mostly white puppy with brown and black spots on PetFinder. His name was Adam. So I told my then wife: "I am going to go meet this dog. Just meet him... that is all for now."
She said: "If you are just going to meet him, why are you taking your checkbook?"
We both laughed. So I drove from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham with my other dog in the car (her name is Lilith; I lost her in my divorce).
We drove way up into the hills to a woman's private shelter for dogs. Adam had been picked up a few days prior from the city pound, along with his sister and two other puppies.
They were all sick with worms, kennel cough, and they were emaciated but had big swollen bellies.
I saw Adam there and picked him up. I took him to my car to meet Lilith, to see if they would get along.
Adam was exhausted and lethargic.
But he seemed to get along with Lilith. He also let me easily roll him over on his belly.
Adam's sister was a real cutie -- red stripes on orange fur.
Adam looked like an evil clown.
I figured that his sister would more easily get adopted because of her cuteness. So I decided for certain I was adopting Adam.
I loved him immediately.
So I wrote a check to the woman running the shelter for $75. I scooped Adam into my arms and put him in the car with Lilith.
As we got to the edge of the driveway I said to Adam: "Here we go, to your new life... Harlan."
I took him home, showed him to my then wife, and dropped Lilith with her. I took Harlan to the vet, got all the meds he needed, and went back home. Then I bathed him, fed him, gave him water, and just snuggled him for the rest of the evening.
He will be ten years old tomorrow, my puppy, Harlan.
Teacher Terry
8-2-19, 4:57pm
Great story UL.
Great story UL.
I agree--got me all verklempt (and that's not easy to do)
Memorable memories... not sure which are the best of my life but memorable.
Went to China when it first opened up to Americans. Was sitting by myself outside of a restaurant just watching pedestrians and traffic. An elderly women on a bicycle going by just kept turning around looking at me. The expression was "uppity American". I was so thrilled to be there and JUST smiled at her. Her face split open with a smile and kept turning back to me smiling. It was a thrilling connection!!! One I will always remember.
My first job when in one night I was asked out by 5 guys. I freaked. Of course, I went out with the first guy who asked me.
Watching my 6 week old son who I was patting on the back and rocking....start patting me back!!!
Singing nonsense to my very young son who was mimicking me... only to realize others were hearing the exchange. hehe
Seeing my son see his breath in the cold air for the first time. Like WTH is this??? Makes a person realize what we take for granted!
Loved your story UL!!
iris lilies
8-2-19, 10:42pm
That's a beautiful "best day"--thanks for sharing it.
I remember one day when I was traveling in England--I was there for Junior Year Abroad. We wanted to see the moors of the Brontes but we didn't realize what a convoluted public transit journey it was. We had to take a train to York, then a train to Leeds and then a bus to Haworth, and then walk up to the Bronte sisters' father's parsonage.
By the time we got there it was dark--pitch dark. We saw a woman in the church and we asked her where the moors were. She cautioned us against going up there at that time, but she pointed us in the direction, and we headed off.
We walked up the hills until we got to a spot where the heather was literally swooshing around our calves in the wind, but we couldn't even see it. What we could see was the town's twinkling lights down below, silhouettes of horses on hills further up and directly above us millions of stars. It was silent except for the swooshing (and I THINK I did hear Heathcliff calling 'Cathy!' :), and it was dark except for lights below and the gloaming above. It was a truly mystical moment and my best travel memory by far.
So, I'm not sure if it qualifies as a "best day" but it was a truly memorable, wonderful day--thanks SEL, for jogging my thoughts.
That exact scenario is one if my bucket list items. I always get the urge to go visit the moors of the Brontes when the weather turns here to crisp fall. Thank you for this story! I have always said that when I won when the lottery, Yorkshire is a likely place I would live because I could go up north to Scotland easily and down south to sunny climates easily.
When I was early 20’s I took a solo trip to the UK. I was there for a few weeks. One of the unforgettable places for me on that trip was trudging up to the remains of Castle Campbell, the Castle of Gloom. It was misty and beautiful and quiet, and I was the only person there. Ghosties were floating around, it seemed. Later that day I walked into town and had the most wonderful food I have ever eaten: deep-fried macaroni and cheese at a restaurant there. That was a good day!
Best day of my life? I slept through it.
I haven't had mine yet (or maybe I slept through it, like LDAHL), but I've had some good moments, like this one with my SO at a friend's wedding:
2923
I haven't had mine yet (or maybe I slept through it, like LDAHL), but I've had some good moments, like this one with my SO at a friend's wedding:
2923
Oh, he looks like such a nice guy.
iris lilies
8-7-19, 11:45am
I haven't had mine yet (or maybe I slept through it, like LDAHL), but I've had some good moments, like this one with my SO at a friend's wedding:
2923
He is cute! You described him as gregarious, and I can see him making quick friends with that friendly face.
I've been thinking about this for the past several days and can't come up with the best day so far, I think I'll put my money on tomorrow.
That picture said it all--he was my front man.
He was sick once, and his fellow bus riders all got together and bought and signed a card. I could have dropped dead while riding my bus and no one would have noticed. Opposites definitely attracted in my case.
Teacher Terry
8-7-19, 12:35pm
He looks fun and happy! I can’t pick one best day. I have had many great ones.
That picture said it all--he was my front man.
Does that mean that that is you peeking over his shoulder?
He was sick once, and his fellow bus riders all got together and bought and signed a card. I could have dropped dead while riding my bus and no one would have noticed. Opposites definitely attracted in my case.
I so identify with you on that! When I used to go to parties in situations when my DH couldn't make it, the host would open the door, smile, and then search over my shoulder and ask "Where's J__?" Everyone counts on him to be the life of the party, and I'm happy to be the silent wind beneath his wings.
Does that mean that that is you peeking over his shoulder?
Yes, indeed.
Greatest day fishing from the shore:
Late summer 2016 I was boot deep in water at a lake I fished at often -- high pressure, spring fed, crystal clear. I was fishing channel cats in the evening. I was catching them good eatin' ones -- about 16 or 18 inches. I was just enjoying the moment, relaxing in a lull, taking in the scenery.
Then...
That line started drawing out...going...going...
I closed the mechanism and slowly lifted to set the C hook as I knew it was a cat by how it swam.
When I set the hook I could feel it was a hell of a beast!
I fought it and fought it and it fought me and fought me. I fish light lines so I thought for sure it would snap.
But after a good long time I brought it to surface.
It was a Fish Ohio channel catfish! 28 inches long and thick as a dang oak tree!
Just as I reeled it in and got my hands around it to put it in the cooler of ice water three very attractive Asian women walked by! They came right down to the edge of the water and seemed totally amazed!
I felt like king of the world for a moment.
One of them looked me in the eye and said: "IT IS HUGE!"
I said: "Its a good catch, ma'am. Thanks for noticing."
I wrote this once before, on my phone, but it didn't save. I thought I wrote it better the first time, but here goes:
My best day ever was Friday, October 12, 1962, Columbus Day; I had turned 8 years old three days before.
It was a typical windy fall day and my dad was deer hunting in the east side of the state, hours away totally unaware of what was going to happen that weekend. Mom was home with four of us ranging from 10 months to 12 years. Late in the afternoon the wind picked up and mom told us we needed to hunker down in the inner hallway away from all our windows. There we stayed all through the stormy night.
My sister and I wandered out to the front room in time to look out the back door windows and witness our beloved cherry tree being blown to the ground. The roaring wind was exhilarating.
In the days following the storm the small town I lived in was gray but crisp, and sounds of chainsaws were commonly heard from all directions. It smelled like sawdust, fallen leaves and mud puddles. Everyone helped one another with groceries, chores, repairs and watching kids.
We were out of power for the better part of a week. Mom made clam chowder in the fireplace to use up the ingredients before they went bad. The local grocers gave out all their ice cream for free as the freezers were out!
All these sights and sounds and neighborly activity inspired awe and appreciation for the power of nature and kindness of community. The memory is as vivid today as it was then. This is why it is my best day ever. When I think of a time I really felt alive, this is where I go.
rosarugosa
8-12-19, 5:33pm
Wow Kay, and to think your best day memory involves all those dead trees!
Wow Kay, and to think your best day memory involves all those dead trees!
Actually, my dad and grandpa propped up an apple and a pear tree we had and they're still standing as far as I know. But they were all on the ground Oct. 13.
Kay, that was really a good day! Nice that an 8 year old saw and remembered that event.
iris lilies
8-12-19, 6:58pm
Kay all of that free ice cream!!. monumental!
Will it sound weird to suggest that despite a great life, I am still anticipating that tomorrow or the next or the next will be the best?
Will it sound weird to suggest that despite a great life, I am still anticipating that tomorrow or the next or the next will be the best?
Not weird---hopeful!
Will it sound weird to suggest that despite a great life, I am still anticipating that tomorrow or the next or the next will be the best?
No, that's the way I feel about it too! My life just keeps getting better. I'm so grateful!
I'm not sure if it's the day at 45 when I finally got diagnosed with PTSD or the first day at 12 after Dad finally fired my Abuser.
Probably the first one: I had tried telling the shrink, the school, my friends, various adults, lying, telling the truth, running away, etc. No one seemed to pay attention.
Dad was on travel one time when I was 12 (Mom died when I was not-quite 4, Abuser was my "mother.") and I got blamed for at least 3 things that morning I hadn't done. Abuser went to the market. Her daughter started in on me. I don't remember if she was spraying me with Right Guard, chasing me so she could beat me up, or chasing me flipping me the bird (which I only knew was bad at the time). I got overwhelmed. Said if she didn't leave me alone, I was going to jump off the balcony!
She said, "Go ahead, I dare you!"
I did.
I caught hell for it from the Abuser and went to the doctor the next day. As far as I knew at the time, it was as futile as everything else. Except it wasn't.
The doctor told my dad he had to fix the problem I had. Eventually, Dad fired her.
I was giddy the next day in 7th grade. Someone had let me out of jail, finally!
------
Getting diagnosed with PTSD meant that I wasn't a wimp, or feeling sorry for myself, or. . . the bizarre behavior I had done for decades suddenly had context. There were things I could do to lessen PTSD's impact.
Hard to untangle those for me. The first one made the healing possible so I got to the second.
Teacher Terry
8-13-19, 12:22pm
So glad your dad finally got rid of that horrible woman.
So glad your dad finally got rid of that horrible woman.
Yes, amen to that.
rosarugosa
8-13-19, 5:48pm
NewGig: How horrible that you had those experiences in your childhood. So glad it is behind you now!
Following up on my Best Day....I should have written that The Columbus Day Storm of 1962 was a bit of an anomaly here in the PacNW. It originated off Wake Island in the central Pacific and so was a extratropical storm that reached Category 3. All big storms in our area were compared to it by name ever since. According to Wikipedia:
The Columbus Day Storm of 1962 (also known as the Big Blow,[2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day_Storm_of_1962#cite_note-2) and originally as Typhoon Freda (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Freda)) was a Pacific Northwest windstorm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest_windstorm) that struck the West Coast of Canada and the Pacific Northwest (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest) coast of the United States on October 12, 1962. It is considered the benchmark of extratropical wind storms. The storm ranks among the most intense to strike the region since at least 1948, likely since the January 9, 1880 "Great Gale (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Gale_of_1880)" and snowstorm. The storm is a contender for the title of most powerful extratropical cyclone recorded in the U.S. in the 20th century; with respect to wind velocity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_velocity), it is unmatched by the March 1993 "Storm of the Century (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_North_American_Storm_Complex)" and the "1991 Halloween Nor'easter (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Halloween_Nor%27easter)" ("The Perfect Storm"). The system brought strong winds to the Pacific Northwest (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest) and southwest Canada, and was linked to 46 fatalities in the northwest and Northern California (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_California) resulting from heavy rains and mudslides.
My story is similar to UL's.
The day my mom and I went to pick up my first dog. The rescue had her freshly bathed and ready to go. We got her home and I started assembling her crate. She went into it before I had the sections secured, just to check it out. It was a big day for her, and when I was eating later, she sat next to my chair, and watched me eat, but she was so tired she kept nodding off. It was so cute. When I fed her, she hesitated and looked at me, as if to say "Is this really mine???" Gemma was the best dog, so smart and well behaved.
My current dog, Willa, was adopted as a senior, deaf and now with a brain tumor. She's special too, but not the same.
BTW, today I officially became the owner of my new pony Merlyn! That's him in my new avatar. He's a small fat pony and my next happiest day of my life will be when I find a saddle that fits him!
Teacher Terry
9-1-19, 11:47pm
Pony, all the animals we rescued are different and some tweak your life more than others but all are valued.
happystuff
10-11-19, 7:45am
Late to this - I've had three best days. The day each of my children were placed in my arms. There have been good and bad days since, and there will be good and bad days to come, but those three days are still my "best".
Isn’t there an old joke to the effect of the happiest day of my life was when I bought the boat, and the second happiest was the day I sold it?
catherine
10-30-19, 5:15pm
Isn’t there an old joke to the effect of the happiest day of my life was when I bought the boat, and the second happiest was the day I sold it?
Here's a variation on that: the best day of my husband's life was when he bought the boat, and the happiest day of my life will be when he sells it. :)
I enjoy the boat, but not the expense.
I know this is an old thread and I'm probably just in a sad mood because my cat is dying but the day we brought him and his brother home still rank at the top as far as great days. The day we brought them home his brother jumped out of the carrier and checked everything out immediately. My guy was more circumspect. He stayed in the carrier until no one was paying attention, then came out and tried to go behind the fridge. He got wedged in there, started crying, so I moved the fridge over and scooped him out. Apparently he decided that was a noble act. 15 years later he and I are still super best buds.
This pic is shortly after we brought them home.
3000
Teacher Terry
11-4-19, 1:19am
Beautiful kitties! We have lost 5 dogs in the past 2 years. It’s heartbreaking.
iris lilies
11-4-19, 6:54am
Jp, sorry about your kitty.
So sorry, jp... I love your picture...Beautiful cat.
rosarugosa
11-4-19, 7:41am
I'm so sorry JP. It is wonderful to have them, but so hard to lose them.
It is hard when we have to let them go. Lovely photo. I am amazed that they were so quiet and posed for the photo.
They are so beautiful, JP1. My Millie was a ginger cat, too, the best cat I ever knew.
iris lilies
11-4-19, 12:03pm
The yellow cats are almost always boys.
Back in the day when I was a huge cat person I knew a lot of cats, and that was a universal truth for me. Only recently did I learn that yellow tabby is indeed a sex linked color.
Actually that's not 100%. Their mom looked just like them. We could've adopted her too but at 1 year old they were still trying to nurse. She wasn't having any part of it and kept swatting them away everytime they nosed in for a drink.
Thank you all for your kind words. As difficult as this time is we've had 14 1/2 awesome years with these guys. Regarding the picture, I have no idea how we managed it. This was in the days before smartphones so our regular camera must have been sitting out for some reason and we just lucked out, because no, they were not in the habit of posing like that all day long. Back then there were way too many fun games to be played. There just wasn't much time for sitting around like that.
iris lilies
11-4-19, 2:12pm
Actually that's not 100%. Their mom looked just like them. We could've adopted her too but at 1 year old they were still trying to nurse. She wasn't having any part of it and kept swatting them away everytime they nosed in for a drink.
Thank you all for your kind words. As difficult as this time is we've had 14 1/2 awesome years with these guys. Regarding the picture, I have no idea how we managed it. This was in the days before smartphones so our regular camera must have been sitting out for some reason and we just lucked out, because no, they were not in the habit of posing like that all day long. Back then there were way too many fun games to be played. There just wasn't much time for sitting around like that.
The yellow cat population is 80% male. True, not all yellow cats are male.
Unlike calico cats (actually blue/ cream or black/red) those are sex linked and male cats in that coloration are very rare.
I also seem to recall reading somewhere that almost all white cats with blue eyes are female and deaf. I wonder how much having a deaf cat affects how it socializes with people. Many years ago a friend had a deaf dog and that was quite a project, but since cats are less likely to take direction from their human companions I assume a deaf cat wouldn't be as much of an issue.
iris lilies
11-5-19, 9:58am
I also seem to recall reading somewhere that almost all white cats with blue eyes are female and deaf. I wonder how much having a deaf cat affects how it socializes with people. Many years ago a friend had a deaf dog and that was quite a project, but since cats are less likely to take direction from their human companions I assume a deaf cat wouldn't be as much of an issue.
Yes, blue eyed white cats are very often deaf. Odd eyed (one blue, one copper) ones are fine.I dont remember that blued eyed/white is a sex linked gene.
Yes, blue eyed white cats are very often deaf. Odd eyed (one blue, one copper) ones are fine.I dont remember that blued eyed/white is a sex linked gene.
I had a white, blue-eyed cat. I read somewhere--and have never seen confirmation of it--that, if such a cat has a (gray?) colored patch on its head, it won't be deaf. My cat did have a gray patch that disappeared as she grew, and she could hear. Maybe I dreamed it. I've also heard that odd-eyed white cats are often deaf on the blue-eyed side.
iris lilies
11-5-19, 11:25am
My general observation, not verified in a scientific way exactly, is that white coat is something Mother Mature abhors in cats and dogs. Hence, the white coated animals have a higher percentage of health problems.
White coated bulldogs do, I believe, have a higher risk for skin problems.Mother nature likes brindle and Dingo coloration on dogs, and tabby stripes on cats. These creatures bred by humans to be white, flat faced, etc. are genetic problems waiting to happen.
My white cat came to me via a second story window. Her mother was a stray Siamese who gave birth while I was out for the evening. I came home to tiny meows coming from under my bedclothes. She did die relatively young from a heart condition.
Teacher Terry
11-5-19, 1:25pm
White dogs are also more likely to be deaf than other colors. Centuries ago they bred all the colors out of Maltese. They have lots of health issues.
happystuff
11-8-19, 8:13am
So sorry about your cat, jp. Looks just like my Braveheart - she was from a feral litter.
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