By PATTIE MIHALKIK

newsgirl@comcast.netFacebook encourages its users to "celebrate something" and share it.I don't need a nudge to do that. I believe we should celebrate the good things in life every chance we get.I did exactly that when I flew to Pennsylvania for a family wedding. When my sister called to tell me about her son's upcoming nuptials, she said she hoped we could all get together for the happy event."Won't it be nice," she said, "when we can all get together for something besides a funeral?"When I was booking my flight from Florida, I was chagrined to see how expensive it was to fly at this time of year … and even more dismayed to learn I couldn't get a direct flight. To get to Pennsylvania, I first had to fly to Chicago and spend nine hours traveling instead of what should have been slightly more than a two-hour trip.But I wasn't tempted to complain, not even to myself, because I realized what my sister said was true. Our geographically scattered family doesn't don't put our busy schedules aside unless we are getting together for a funeral.I think a lot of families are like that. We say we are too busy to get together, or we say at this point in our life, it's just not convenient.Sad, isn't it, when it's only something like a death in the family that compels us to put our schedules aside.At the wedding, it was a celebration for me to see family members I hadn't seen for a decade. My niece Krystal was a little girl the last time I saw her. Now I look at that stunning young woman and wonder where the time went. I wonder, too, why I let so much time go by before I flew in to see them.At one time our extended family was so big we could fill the front of a church. Now, there are so few of us that we can barely fill one pew. That means it's even more important to reach out to each other.Family celebrations don't come often enough.We made plans at the wedding to all get together in the fall at my nephew Richie's house … just a little party to celebrate family.I hope it happens.Our family just had another big reason to celebrate. My son-in-law, Greg, entered his documentary "The Great Alone" into the Seattle Film Festival. The film tells the story of Lance Mackey, who, despite cancer, setbacks and hardships, went on to become a champion sled dog racer.Greg shot the documentary in the arctic region of Alaska as he followed Lance in what was hoped to be his comeback Iditarod.I don't think there is a wasted minute in the action-packed, emotionally gripping film. But Greg is family, so some might think I'm prejudiced.Just as my husband and I were about to jump on our bikes for a long ride, my cellphone rang with a text message.Greg's film was selected for the Grand Jury Prize for best documentary.When I saw that message, tears of joy ran down my face. I cried from happiness for much of my bike ride because it couldn't happen to a nicer person than Greg.Later that night when I read the grand jury's statement on Facebook about why they gave "The Great Alone" the coveted prize, I cried some more. And I'm the person who claims, "I'm not a crier."Well, maybe it's just touching, happy things that make me cry.I think there are so many kicks, blows and bad turns we all get in life. Lance had his share, as the documentary points out. I was thrilled for Lance and Greg when they could stand on the winner's stage.While big things like that win seem like a worthy reason to celebrate, I often find myself celebrating the quiet little moments that make life great.I felt that way last week when I got to interview the Shark Brothers, two Florida guys who won fame for themselves with their innovative shark movie and catch-and-release shark tournaments.I had to laugh when they told me sharks never set out to bite anyone. It's just an occasional accident that happens, they said, when sharks are feeding.Well, a shark bite hurts just as much, whether it was intentional or not.I found the adventurous brothers fascinating, even though I find it hard to accept sharks as an endangered species.While I was kayaking one afternoon I got separated from my friend Barbara. When I saw the fin of a shark circling near my kayak, I was infused with adrenaline to get the heck out of there as fast as I could.The Shark Brothers didn't convince me to want to protect sharks. I just want to protect myself from sharks. But I sure did enjoy their adventure stories.The world is filled with fascinating people, and it's always a happy experience for me when I get to meet and know another interesting person.I find joy in so many corners of my life. And I give thanks for every happy experience.I believe we can all enjoy a happier life by being attuned to small joys and by looking for more reasons to celebrate.So, what will you next celebrate in your life?