Sunday, November 30, 2008

A slackers Thanksgiving list

I know that today is Sunday...a full 3 days since the actual Thanksgiving day...but I have been giving a lot of thought to things that I am thankful for this year.
Naturally, I am thankful for my family...all of them...even Gram, who pinched my butt and asked if I were gaining weight. (she is 88, I didn't hit her.)I'm thankful for my boys, who, just like me, believe that Thanksgiving is the new Christmas and that family members are magical, and heroic, and are placed on a pedestal, where they belong. I am thankful that they have the opportunity to know their cousins.
I am thankful that said cousins shared their new baby with me. I am pretty sure I hogged him the whole time, but I fell in love. And that love made a difficult week much easier than I thought it would be. Next time I get to see him, he will be walking and talking, and the snugglefest will be long forgotten, but somehow, I think I will remember it for a long time.
I am also thankful that we were all able to be together. All of us. Even the more difficult ones. I am thankful that my parents have their health and were able to host this again. I am thankful that my 88 year old gram did pinch my butt and ask about my weight. I am thankful that she is here and is able to do it! I also know that it means she loves me.
I am thankful for the other, more routine things...like my job. I stress about it and I may or may not still have it next year at this time, but I am thankful for it right now. I am also thankful for my friends. This year has been a trying time for me. I have done something that I never thought I would or could do. I know that each of my friends brings something that I need into my life. I am thankful for that. I am thankful for one friend, in particular...singling her out isn't a bad thing, I know she doesn't read this...but she has been a source of strength for me. A sounding board. A critic. A cheerleader. An ego booster. An advisor. A comedian. A shoulder to cry on. A nurse. And much more...sometimes all at once. So, I am very thankful for her...while I hope never to see her in a position where she needs the favor returned, I can only hope to be able to help her the way she has helped me.

So...all in all...I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a job, a wonderful family, great friends, a warm house, and food on the table. It would be wrong to ask for much more.

2 comments:

~Tori said...

beautiful... just like you!

Melissa said...

Like you, I found myself just as grateful for the "mundane" and "normal" things. I'm also thankful I found new friends in people like you. Funny where friendship crops up, isn't it? XO!