Summer/Fall of 2009

Actually posting again has made me realize how much has happened these last months that I don't want to forget about. Therefore, this is a summary of the last months.

In June, I had the pleasure of visiting Eddy in California. We went to Golden Gate park where we sat by a pond feeding ducks and various other pond creatures (the poor turtles were slow)! It was a moment where I felt the happiest of my life. It was a moment I wanted to stay in forever. Alas, that trip was the last time I saw my Eddy. Different circumstances kept us from visiting each other the following months, and now we are broken up. While it is my fault for being unable/unwilling to move out there, it feels like I am almost an outsider watching some cosmic hand of fate wrench us apart... I miss him terribly. I am grateful that we still talk almost weekly. I care so deeply for him, so it is nice to hear about his life. It's always bittersweet, however, because there is a certain iciness to his tone that I know is there to hide his pain. I hate that I am the source of that pain. I can't imagine finding someone I could love as much as him, but I'm just taking things one day at a time.

I had the pleasure of attending my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary celebration in Texas. They are adorably old!! They are quite lucid and pretty healthy for being over 80 though! My aunts and uncles asked if one of them was the boss and that's how they stayed together so long. Grandpa said there was no boss, to which grandma exclaimed "I thought you said I was the boss!" Grandpa wryly retorted "No, I said you were bossy!" The room errupted in laughter. Another humorous moment came when the waitress was passing out food. She called out a BLT salad, and Grandpa raised his hand. Aunt Leanne, said no, he ordered a BLT sandwich. Grandpa insisted he ordered a BLT salad. This argument went back and forth in cartoon fashion with the salad being grabbed to and from. Finally the waitress meekly proffered "We don't have a BLT sandwich." I yelled "Dang people let Granda eat his dinner!!" Again there was an uproar of laughter.

I got to visit Shanna in MN in October. I really liked Minneapolis, and if it weren't for the COLD weather, I'd think it a great place to live. It was quite vibrant and alive with culture, intelligence, and had a nice aesthetic. It didn't seem snooty though. We saw One Republic and Rob Thomas in concert, which of course, rocked my face off! She is dating a boy, and they seem to be getting pretty serious. She really wants a family, so I'm happy for her, but I don't like any boys touching my baby sister!!

Of course, I finally purchased a motorcycle! I seriously don't know how I lived before!!!! It's like I'm a brand new person. I wish I had bucked up and found one earlier. It's fun, cathartic, social, outdoors, cool... I love it so much!

An addendum to the Thanksgiving post: My family is crazy weird! And I love it! Matt and Shanna do this pitched mouth percussion thing. They are quite adept at the William Tell Overture, and they even did a round (Row Your Boat). Someone suggested a major scale, to which Matt did quite deftly!! I laughed my ass off and suggested a minor scale. It was a bit more difficult, but he acquitted himself quite well. Naturally this was all at the dinner table...

Song of Thanksgiving

I don't know why I've fallen off the blogging bandwagon so hard. I've certainly had enough thoughts and emotions lately to fill many blogs, but I've had no desire to post. Why not jump back into it with an exclamation of gratitude on this Day of Thanks.

I am thankful for my wonderful family who support, uplift, and entertain me. They are a crazy bunch of people with wonderful talents, thoughts, and perspectives. I'm glad to be a part of them. I'm so happy I got to finally meet the latest addition, little Maddy, who is a teeny tiny five-pound auburn-haired doll. It's an affirmation of the miracle of life to see her. Hard to believe an entire person can fit into five pounds! I fell asleep with her cuddled up on my chest this evening, and we enjoyed a blissful nap together.

I am grateful to know Eddy G, the most beautiful, talented, intelligent, dedicated, and interesting person I've ever met. To have called him mine is an honor and a privilege most can only dream about. Though we are currently separated, I am thankful that our relationship is as good as it can be considering the circumstances, and that he is still a part of my life.

I am so lucky to have an array of stellar friends! In my life, I have met and befriended a myriad assortment of people. These people have been there for me in times of need or of play. They lift my spirits, they help me party, they help me learn, they make music with me, they provide me comfort and company. I am truly blessed with amazing people in my life.

I am thankful for the companionship of the little dog, Zipper. His unconditional devotion is a joy beyond words. I thank God for this glorious world, but especially for the little dogs in it!

I am privileged to have a job at all in this economic climate, much less one that has been going very well for me financially. I have some interesting coworkers (good and bad interesting) who make me laugh and teach me new perspectives. I'm grateful my financial freedom has afforded me new ways to appreciate life, most notably of late my motorcycle! Hooray for motorcycles!

I am eternally grateful for the gift of music. I recently had the opportunity to sing Brahms' Requiem for the first time since learning it my freshman year of college when both my grandmother and grandfather died. 14 years later, the beauty and power of the music coupled with the comfort and joy in the text still move me beyond words.

Lastly I am thankful for nature's wonders such as Orion's starry gaze providing comfort on my long trip home.