It has become somewhat traditional here at JU to write a special article commemorating our 100th article. This is mine.

Reaching my 100th blog has me thinking about other 100ths. Some 100ths we celebrate (number of blogs, birthdays -- maybe), some we'll probably never reach (100th Christmas, 100th trips to the other side of the world, birthdays -- again), and most go by without even a notice (100th Big Mac eaten, 100th sunset stopped and watched, 100th time you kissed someone special) unless you're OCD. I guess the more frequently an event occurs, the less attention we pay. The less frequent, the more "special" (for good or bad) each becomes.

Saturday Night Live once did a sketch about a man's guardian angel welcoming him to heaven.The guardian angel told him he could ask anything he wanted. "What's the grossest thing I ever ate?" asks the man. The angel shakes his head. "You couldn't handle it." The man inquires about the 2nd worst thing he ever ate. Angel shakes his head. They go back and forth till arriving at something ungross enough to stomach.

It makes you wonder what the top 100 grossest things you ever ate were, or even just the 100th grossest. What were the 100 dumbest things you ever said? Stupidest things you thought? Unrequited things longed for? 100 happiest moments? I wonder what the 100 longest lines I've ever stood in are? The 100 most distressing moments?

Some things are "the more the merrier," others are "Oh, God, make it stop!" If I never had another cold or sick day it could not be soon enough. Certainly most bodily functions fall into the latter category. No-one blows a noisemaker and shouts, "Woo-hoo! My 100th bout of diarrhea! Yesssss!" Although, 100th orgasm may be cause for celebration. "Share the moment with someone you love." I'd like to see the Hallmark card on that one.

What makes the 100th thing, when noticed, special? Experience suggests most things get old long before the 100th iteration. So why do some things remain special and noteworthy? Why do some things never lose their savor? And why do some things become even more special with time and repetition?

I don't know how many times I've been to Disneyland but I still long to go. How many times have I eaten pizza? Relished the smell of tea? Appreciated an attractive woman? I really couldn't tell you, but keep 'em coming!

I'd like to think that if we paid a little more attention to the things in our lives, focused a little more consciousness on them, savored them all just a little more, much more of daily life would become special. Even if we're not anal-retentive enough to count each one.