I set out this afternoon to begin my holiday shopping. Yes, on December 16, I am only beginning. I thought of the crowds and traffic and decided, at the start, it would be an odious undertaking, something to just get through.

But! Not at all. First I went to Michaels to find some cheap basket-type apparatus (which is, evidently, the plural form of apparatus, though I think apparati sounds nice) for presents. I did not succeed, but one of the cashiers immediately came up to me and said "We've been asking everyone who comes in wearing a scarf -- did you make that?" I told her I didn't, though I am working on a scarf of my own. She continued to admire it. It was nice.

Then I went to the Mustard Seed Market to do most of my actual shopping. I would buy all my groceries there if I could. The place is amazing. The parking lot is full of cars bearing witty & political bumper stickers like mine, and the store is full of the nicest employees I've ever met. And everyone, everyone, from the snootiest Montrose shopper to the grungiest hippie chick is so amazingly sweet and cool while inside that store. I love it. People make eye contact, move their carts for one another, say 'happy holidays.' It is so, so wonderful.

And when I left the Mustard Seed I passed a stranger in the parking lot who said, "I love your scarf! It looks so warm." People being kind on December 16! In the middle of one of the biggest shopping plazas in the Akron area!

What am I, the Grinch? Did my heart grow three sizes today?

Haha, I don't know, but I do think I need to stop being so goddamn cynical! People are mostly wonderful, and this is just a testament to the fact (which I happen to believe, contradiction though it may be) that kindness breeds kindness, and the world could be a happy place if people were actually happy. Think of all the generosity that comes with being happy. Dear lord, two or three people complimented me on my scarf and I had a fabulous day. And then you give it back, and it grows, it grows, exponentially.

My scarf, I adore my scarf. It is huge and fluffy and perhaps -- perhaps you could accurately call it flamboyant. I've had it since high school but almost never wore it. I used to be terrified to wear this scarf. Now I wear it almost every day -- and I love my scarf, it is freedom in a scarf, and look at the reaction. My scarf is beautiful. I am not afraid to stick out and declare: I am Lauren! Hello world! I wear poofy scarves!

I am in such a goofy-assed mood. It feels good. And to think how easily I could feel this way every day.

Go on, be happy now. Please, be happy now.
Jason Mraz

(Jim Chenot -- Akron radio icon, currently playing in the sandbox on my 91.3 -- noted today that Jason, in vocal phrasing and word choice, is like a Don McLean ("American Pie," "Vincent") for the 21st century. I thought that was interesting.)