I’ve spent most of this month feeling bad about the election results, but today as I sat around eating chicken tacos and drinking my traditional Diet Coke and rum (yeah, it’s more of a This Is Us tradition than a traditional tradition, but it makes me happy), I realized things, in my house, aren’t so bad. I started looking through photos and, using them, I made a little list. Turns out, my list isn’t all that little.
I’m thankful for Luci, who can laugh with me over the stupidest stuff, like the fact that I never know where to look when I’m taking a selfie.
And Dee, who’s been my friend for 34 years. If there’s a way a friendship can be tested, we’ve been through it, and we’ve come out the other side. So many of my memories aren’t memories without her, and I’m all the better for it.
And for the girls who sat at the lunch table together in the age of Michael Jackson, Ratt and Duran Duran. We’re scattered all over the country and our children clearly can’t take a decent photo of us, but if I ever had to bury a body, these ladies would all help me find the best price on lime and a shovel.
And for Luci’s jackass children, who do things like this when they’re supposed to be taking good photos of middle aged ladies.
Seriously, though, I love these girls. And also, I really, really can’t take a selfie.
I never understood the old friends/new friends/gold/silver thing, but if I couldn’t have my lunch table buddies with me, I’d throw these two in in a heartbeat. No, not the mime/clown. The two hot ladies. One’s Greek and one’s old Florida; that corpse will never be found. They also lift me up, support me, check in on me when they somehow know I need it… I’m fortunate they’re in my life.
And, of course, these two. I’m thankful we live in a country where they no longer need to hide their love. They got married this year, and while, at one time, I wasn’t a fan of marriage, knowing their lives are forever linked makes me happier than you can possibly imagine.
One of the reasons forever doesn’t scare me anymore is this guy. How could it when he loves my dog so much? There’s more, but it’s private. Just know he’s the best thing that ever happened to me and I’ll never be the same after falling in love with him.
And this little creature. She goes to work with me every day, curls up next to me every night and I can’t remember a time when she didn’t exist.
Not only did I write a book, I found a publisher and this year it hit bookstore shelves. These women have done everything in their power to make it a success (as did the woman taking the picture, who, obviously, isn’t pictured).
Seriously, I have a book. I’ve wanted this since I was nine years old. Do you have any idea how great it felt to hold my copy of it for the very first time?
And, of course, these people. They’re only part of the team at Creative Loafing who make me laugh and make me think and, above all, make me smile.
So, yeah, I’m concerned about the future. I’m freaked the hell out by the president-elect and his more hateful supporters. But right now, I’m focusing on gratitude, and, in that case, my cup runneth over.
Happy Thanksgiving.
