Yeah, thanks.
Ok, so I promised myself I'd write a journal entry on thankfulness. I've never done so before, so this is rather out of my comfort zone. Not that I'm NOT thankful, I just don't normally write it down.
Ok, first off - I'm INCREDIBLY thankful to still have a parent with me. My mom and I have had our differences over the years, but she is someone I love very much and I'm glad that she's still around. Being as she has those "over 100" genes that run in our family, I suspect she'll be around for at least another 20 or 30 or possibly even 40 years. This is something I don't think she really wants to hear because she thinks she's older than dirt now. But she has a lot of spunk left in her - so, mark my words, she'll be here well into my senior years. I'm also very much thankful for her partner and spouse - as much as I love(d) my Daddy, he didn't treat my mom near to the princess level that L does. Thanks so much L, I love you and I'm so thankful for you being in my mom's life AND in all of ours.
My sister is another I'm incredibly thankful for. You all may not know this, but debilitating disease or not, she is smart, funny and wickedly anal about keeping her house clean (She can thank mom for that OCD disorder). She's GORGEOUS and has a knack for learning how to fix things around her house. As a matter of fact, I suspect she could go out tomorrow and get a maintenance job at any apartment building or casino. If she DID, she'd be the hottest maintenance person in Vegas!
Until this year, I wouldn't have had my brother on this list. Well, I would've, but I wouldn't have really been thankful, because he really hadn't done anything to make me thankful for him except stayed alive (but then again I wouldn't have, because I've never made this list before). THIS year however, he's taken giant leaps to living a normal and fairly successful life. He has a lot of relationship repairing yet to do, but I think he's well on his way. You have to understand that growing up, he and I were the closest. We did most everything together, I translated when Mom couldn't understand him, I beat up kids who picked on him and in return, when he got bigger than me, he did the same. We've alway been very close so for me to be able to be thankful for his assimilation back into the real world is only natural. Welcome back, Brother - glad to have you back in our world and our lives.
My son has made HUGE strides this year too. While he still can't figure out that the best way to live without roommate problems is to live without a roommate, he's still made great steps towards being a responsible, successful person. He even bought furniture this year - YEAH! He also celebrated his one year anniversary with his employer, another HUGE step for him. I just couldn't be prouder. Well, yeah I guess I could - I'd like to see him get a newer car, take care of himself medically and maybe find a girlfriend, but a mother can hope, can't she?
I'm also thankful for my employers. While we've had our differences over the years, they know the only reason this happens is because I'm passionate about my work and I care. I'm a "take ownership" kind of gal and they know this. I've made more money for them this year than any other year I've been with them and although I rarely hear it, I know they appreciate it. I have the flexibility and freedom to do what needs to be done and to make things right when things go wrong (I've been in employ of folks who've chastised me for this before, so I'm incredibly appreciative for this). So, thanks guys - you and Cat make life worth going to work.
There are countless friends and other family members who I'm so appreciative and grateful to have in my life, my friend Jen in FL, Jerry & Ted in NY, Kent, Everett, Sean, Elvia, The Zeus gang - ESPECIALLY Barry whom I love so dearly, my nieces who I've reconnected with, my nephew J, my Jack Kennedy and Dixie, my 16 year old cat, Daisy, my sweet Penny, all of my RP and GG friends, my GRANDPARENTS who I'm also reconnecting with, Tony, Ruben, Dawn and Bronda and especially Shawna, but most of all there's my wife. Thank you so much for being a part of my life.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to say I'm thankful for my better half's family. They are great folks. Kind, understanding, funny and even though it took some of them a bit to come around to the "same sex" thing, they're all just wonderful. You never really know what you're getting into, family-wise, when you start a relationship but, I can honestly say I totally hit the jackpot. We're going on 14 years of being a family and I've never taken the time to say I'm thankful for them, so here it is. You all are great.
I'd also like to give props to my new friend and colleague, Lori - dude, you so rock. I love it when you're surprised by new friends/colleagues who's skills and ethics synthesize well with yours. When what comes out of their mouth could have easily come out of yours. When they treat you with the same level of respect, passion and understanding as you do them. All I can say is "awesomeness".
Well, I think that's about it. I know there's so much more, but I could sit here for hours and write a damned book if I didn't have to leave to go home.
Oh one last thing, if you haven't given up on all this mushiness and are still reading well then I'm thankful for YOU too.
Rock on. Oh and Happy Thanksgiving.
Ok, first off - I'm INCREDIBLY thankful to still have a parent with me. My mom and I have had our differences over the years, but she is someone I love very much and I'm glad that she's still around. Being as she has those "over 100" genes that run in our family, I suspect she'll be around for at least another 20 or 30 or possibly even 40 years. This is something I don't think she really wants to hear because she thinks she's older than dirt now. But she has a lot of spunk left in her - so, mark my words, she'll be here well into my senior years. I'm also very much thankful for her partner and spouse - as much as I love(d) my Daddy, he didn't treat my mom near to the princess level that L does. Thanks so much L, I love you and I'm so thankful for you being in my mom's life AND in all of ours.
My sister is another I'm incredibly thankful for. You all may not know this, but debilitating disease or not, she is smart, funny and wickedly anal about keeping her house clean (She can thank mom for that OCD disorder). She's GORGEOUS and has a knack for learning how to fix things around her house. As a matter of fact, I suspect she could go out tomorrow and get a maintenance job at any apartment building or casino. If she DID, she'd be the hottest maintenance person in Vegas!
Until this year, I wouldn't have had my brother on this list. Well, I would've, but I wouldn't have really been thankful, because he really hadn't done anything to make me thankful for him except stayed alive (but then again I wouldn't have, because I've never made this list before). THIS year however, he's taken giant leaps to living a normal and fairly successful life. He has a lot of relationship repairing yet to do, but I think he's well on his way. You have to understand that growing up, he and I were the closest. We did most everything together, I translated when Mom couldn't understand him, I beat up kids who picked on him and in return, when he got bigger than me, he did the same. We've alway been very close so for me to be able to be thankful for his assimilation back into the real world is only natural. Welcome back, Brother - glad to have you back in our world and our lives.
My son has made HUGE strides this year too. While he still can't figure out that the best way to live without roommate problems is to live without a roommate, he's still made great steps towards being a responsible, successful person. He even bought furniture this year - YEAH! He also celebrated his one year anniversary with his employer, another HUGE step for him. I just couldn't be prouder. Well, yeah I guess I could - I'd like to see him get a newer car, take care of himself medically and maybe find a girlfriend, but a mother can hope, can't she?
I'm also thankful for my employers. While we've had our differences over the years, they know the only reason this happens is because I'm passionate about my work and I care. I'm a "take ownership" kind of gal and they know this. I've made more money for them this year than any other year I've been with them and although I rarely hear it, I know they appreciate it. I have the flexibility and freedom to do what needs to be done and to make things right when things go wrong (I've been in employ of folks who've chastised me for this before, so I'm incredibly appreciative for this). So, thanks guys - you and Cat make life worth going to work.
There are countless friends and other family members who I'm so appreciative and grateful to have in my life, my friend Jen in FL, Jerry & Ted in NY, Kent, Everett, Sean, Elvia, The Zeus gang - ESPECIALLY Barry whom I love so dearly, my nieces who I've reconnected with, my nephew J, my Jack Kennedy and Dixie, my 16 year old cat, Daisy, my sweet Penny, all of my RP and GG friends, my GRANDPARENTS who I'm also reconnecting with, Tony, Ruben, Dawn and Bronda and especially Shawna, but most of all there's my wife. Thank you so much for being a part of my life.
I'd also like to take this opportunity to say I'm thankful for my better half's family. They are great folks. Kind, understanding, funny and even though it took some of them a bit to come around to the "same sex" thing, they're all just wonderful. You never really know what you're getting into, family-wise, when you start a relationship but, I can honestly say I totally hit the jackpot. We're going on 14 years of being a family and I've never taken the time to say I'm thankful for them, so here it is. You all are great.
I'd also like to give props to my new friend and colleague, Lori - dude, you so rock. I love it when you're surprised by new friends/colleagues who's skills and ethics synthesize well with yours. When what comes out of their mouth could have easily come out of yours. When they treat you with the same level of respect, passion and understanding as you do them. All I can say is "awesomeness".
Well, I think that's about it. I know there's so much more, but I could sit here for hours and write a damned book if I didn't have to leave to go home.
Oh one last thing, if you haven't given up on all this mushiness and are still reading well then I'm thankful for YOU too.
Rock on. Oh and Happy Thanksgiving.