21 November 2001
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Tonight I put my flannel sheets on my bed, and I'm so looking forward to snuggling down in them. I'm very thankful for flannel sheets. (Even though really, they're winter themed sheets [snowmen!] and I broke my cardinal rule by putting them on today instead of Friday. Seriously, there's really nothing that bugs me more that people who decorate too early. Okay, retail? Whole different ball game. It's retail, it's necessary. Hallmark has to set up their decorations in October so that you can have them ready to go by November. But you, guy who lives next to me and put up his white icicle lights last week? You make me nuts. How can you decorate for Christmas when you should still have up your Fall accents? I don't get it; it goes against the Code.) Tomorrow I'm spending the day at my mom's. We'll have Thanksgiving dinner (true dinner - always served at 1 p.m.) at my aunt and uncle's house. My mom told me there would be 30 this year, down from last year since several of my cousins will be at their respective in-laws'. My dad is spending the day in Memphis, at his brother's, and he'll fly up in his little Cessna on Friday, if the weather complies. Otherwise, I think he'll drive. I saw him in August but it feels like years ago. Everything before the Fall does, actually. There's a lot I'm thankful for this year. Sure, most of the things are static year to year, but there's a lot that's happened in 2001 to be grateful for, even if there's also a lot we'll be glad to move on from. I have new people in my life. I learned how to love. I figured out who my real friends are. People moved away. There were births. There was death. There is plenty, more than plenty, to close my eyes and be grateful for. s As always, family. 2001 brought the Little Peep, and I'm so grateful for him in many ways. He's the cord. He's what ties together this incredibly blended multi-sided family. My much older stepsiblings might not view my mother as anything more than their father's wife, but Sean? Sean will see her as a grandmother because she held him and rocked him and changed more diapers than many in his "real" family. s My own apartment. I used to think that I wouldn't be able to afford a nice place without a roommate, but really I haven't noticed a great difference. Don't get me wrong, living with Mo was one of the greatest things ever, but there's something to be said for true solitude; for having a place that's truly all your own. (I mean, discounting the whole rent thing.) I know that my days of living alone are likely numbered. It won't be long till my home is filled with a husband's socks and children's toys, God willing. I'm grateful for time to just enjoy me. s MATH s my health. I got a lot of bloodwork down earlier in the month, just standard fare - cholesterol, diabetes, thyroid et cetera - but I'd never had any of that done before and my mind likes to run wild. But now I have it on paper - I'm healthy. s Montego. s e to the p s friends. I have good ones, that's for sure. s traveling. I've been extremely lucky and blessed to have gone so many places this year, many of them locales I'd never been to, or even thought that I would visit - Las Vegas (three times), Spain!, Austin, Los Angeles (several times), San Francisco and before the year is up, Pittsburgh and Atlanta. And I don't even think I'm Tina Travels A Lot, but looking at that list, I guess I sort of am. s learning what it is that I really want and need and not compromising. s not getting caught in a web of self-destruction. I have my days and I certainly don't love myself all the time, but through some sort of Grace or luck I was able to escape the confusion of skewed self-image and learn what's actually REAL. s this country and the way I'm constantly amazed by the human spirit. I think we're all extra thankful for that this year. Geez, I was a lot less somber last year, huh? Don't you worry my little pilgrims, I'm still thankful for gravy.
The notify is exchanging Christmas cards! But if you're not on the list, and you'd still like to participate, send me your address and I'll email you my mail drop. Mail is fun. But only when it's anthrax free. The forum is giving thanks.
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