I know for sure that iced coffee is the best cofffee. It makes me happy. Very happy. 3 o’clock is iced coffee time. I’m having a Twix iced coffee right now. You know you’re jealous.

I know for sure that I love a good game. Pretty much addicted to the New York Times game section. I play Wordle, Connections, and the Mini daily. I compete with myself on how many attempts I take to get Wordle and I’m now pleased if I solve Connections. I try to solve the Mini Crossword in less than a minute. I’ve only gotten it twice.

Today was the second time. 48 seconds. Thank you for the applause!

I know for sure that as a firmer English Ed major, this is indeed true. I love well-placed punctuation; it’s one of my favorite things.

I know for sure that I’m not going to sweat in my own house. You can go to double H hockeysticks, Texas and ERCOT.

I know for sure that the conservative right in our country has lost the plot.

Keep in mind, I was born and raised in Kouisian and urs still home to me.

I know for sure that Facebook is a weird place these days. In 2008 or so, it was a place where I got back in touch with high school and college friends and it was a blast. Now it is where you see friends who have tapped into their inner racist conspiracy theorists before you block them. I check Facebook less and less lately, but I do enjoy watching the kids of my friends graduate from high school. And it’s fun to see people living out their midlife crises.

I know for sure that summer on the Gulf Coast and my hair are mortal enemies.

I know for sure that my generation had the best music.

I was born in 1974, right in the middle of what would be Generation X. Forgive me if you’ve heard me say this before, but the first record I bought with my own money (from a birthday or holiday) was Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock ‘n Roll” when I was six. I played it on my plastic record player along with songs from Dumbo and turn-the-page books. That must have started my love of music.

Back then there was good music on the radio, so I didn’t buy a lot of music until middle school. I never listened to what most of my friends were listening to. They were listening to hair bands while I was listening to the New Wave music I discovered from Centenary College’s radio station.

Along with college radio, after watching Pretty in Pink, I bought the soundtrack right away. I credit that soundtrack with getting me through middle school. I still listen to those songs. INXS, New Order, Psychedelic Furs, The Smiths, and Echo and the Bunnymen — shut up right now. It doesn’t get better than that.

My kids are Gen Z. The music they listen to is weird. My son listens to some good stuff, but most of the other stuff is autotuned to death and the lyrics are garbage. I know every generation thinks they had the best music — and I would say the Boomers had The Beatles and they influenced everyone I listen to — the 60s had amazing music. My generation benefited from all of that, so there’s that. But this generation’s musicians have taken none of those cues. I listen to a lot of Adult Alternative bands, but they’re Millenials.

So, yeah. We had the best music.

I know for sure that anxiety is awful. I’m talking about my personal experience having Generalized Anxiety Disorder. It’s the worst. I have anxiety during the day, but it’s worse when I’m trying to go to sleep. My mind races. It runs the gamut of my brain reminding me of the things I have to do wondering what I should do for my birthday to thinking that I should look for the Rogue Rose Coach handbag on eBay because it’s retired from stores. It’s A LOT.

If what I described sounds a little too familiar or you have anxiety that stops you from doing the things you love, here’s your permission slip to talk to a doctor or therapist. If I can help, I’m easy to contact. I would be happy to talk.

I know for sure that my dad is a great guy. You’ll never find a more down-to-earth and tell-it-to-you-straight person. No one can believe it when I tell them he didn’t really talk until I was a junior in high school. I’m sure he talked when I wasn’t home (which was a lot) and when he was working (which was all the time). He worked very hard. Now he’s married to my stepmother and they love traveling and spending time with my kids. He is a dog Dad now.

I also know for sure that both of my grandfathers were the best. They were completely different, but the best. I miss them a lot.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there!