What Am I Thankful For?

Been trying to decide what sort of verbal (written) diarrhea to subject the world to next, and thought maybe a sensible, seasonal topic would be good.

What am I thankful for? And not in any particular order....

Obviously, I’m thankful I have a job! It’s been an ugly time and so many people have lost their jobs, I have to be thankful I have mine, even if I often think it’s gong to be the death of me before retirement gets here. Working for judges isn’t always the easiest thing to do. There is a joke one of the supervisors told me my first day in the office, a guy goes to Heaven and meets St. Peter at the gate. St. Peter greets him and invites him in. The man says he would love to enter, but he cannot imagine spending eternity with lawyers, so he needs to know if there are lawyers in Heaven. St. Peter laughs and says, of course there are no attorneys! Never had any. So the man enters Heaven and one of the first people he sees is wearing a black robe and has a gavel. The man is very upset and goes to find St. Peter. He says, “St. Peter, you lied! Not only is there an attorney in Heaven, he’s a judge!” St. Peter chuckles and says “That’s not an attorney, that just God! He thinks he is a federal judge!” Yep, we all like it...

I’m thankful Pa appears to be in good health. As crazy as he makes me sometimes, I’m thankful I have this time to spend with him. (Also thankful I got to spend a couple of years with Mom here before she died.) Sometimes, he will tell me stories from back when he was working and usually they are hysterical. I wonder if Kenny and Calvin and Andy and Whitey and all of the rest have told as many stories about him? I wonder how they all didn't kill themselves...

I’m thankful for my dogs. Yes, they make me crazy, too, but they are also the epitome of unconditional, unlimited love. I have also met some wonderful people through the greyhounds. Strange, but wonderful!

I’m thankful for my friends:

Lil & John, I don’t know why, but whenever I have a melt down, they seem to be there to give me a hand. I've known Lil since grade school, so I guess she is one of my “oldest” friends! (Don’t you love that, Lil?)

Diane & Steve, also always there when I need a hand, or a shoulder to cry on! I don’t know what I would have done had you guys not been there to help with the house in Illinois. Diane is another one of those “old” school friends...

Torri & Judith, both “greyhound” friends, but sort of more like little sisters now. Wow, how many times have we cried on each other’s shoulders? Linda & Herb, also “greyhound” friends, but they sure came through when we were losing our minds!

Donna, my former neighbor and now Guardian Angel, what would I do without her? She is always there when shPOOPt happens!

Robin & Joe and their kids, Zakary, Kayley and Brennan. They are fairly recent “adoptions” to my family, I never had a little brother, so I adopted Joe and his family! They have really been there, too, when the shPOOPt hit the fan!

JoAnn, she sort of fits in the “friends” and “family” category. We have so much in common, and can sit and talk until the wee hours of the morning. If we can both stay awake! (Now, if we could only get Joey to get a computer!)

I’m thankful for the Internet! It has allowed me to reconnect with more old friends! DJ & Ann & Merridy, I really want to get together with you guys in 2010! Pam! It’s been a long time since high school, and boy, have we both changed?!

The Internet has allowed me to reconnect with family! Aunt Rosie & Millie & Tisha & Cheryl & Diane & Harry & Gerry & Jill & Beverly. We know how bad I am at letters, so it’s a good thing!

I’m thankful for the Internet introducing me to new friends:

Diego, we couldn’t be more different, yet there is a common bond. You know why I think we understand each other.

Tor & Jenn, you continue to amaze me. I’ve never had a lot of patience and forgiveness hasn’t always been my forte, either! You show loyalty I only wish I could emulate!

I’m even thankful for Carol & Phil & Kathy, my sister, brother-in law and niece. Mom always said Carol was thrilled to have a little sister. Some days I wonder if Carol would have been as “thrilled” had she known what she was getting into...

I’m thankful for re-discovering Music this year. You may not understand that, but music has always been something that touches me deeply, makes my life happier and more complete. I’m thankful for discovering Adam Lambert, Sam Sparro, Ferras, and Cassidy Haley this year.

I’m thankful to live in the United States. I’ve met people from many other countries through my job, and you don’t appreciate what you have until you hear what it’s like to live in some of those places. There is a reason people will chance death walking through deserts, hiding away on ships, jumping on moving trains, trying to make it on rafts.

I’m thankful for all of the members of the armed forces, past and current, active duty and reserve, who serve our country. Thanks to their families who have also sacrificed for all of us to have this great country in which we live. There is that saying, “Freedom Isn’t Free,” and you all know that better than anyone.

I’m thankful for all of our law enforcement community. I’ve known those crazy people who go undercover, who put themselves out there to bring in the “scary” people I only have to talk to with bars and bulletproof glass between us.

I’d like to be thankful for attorneys, but... I’m kidding! Their's is very difficult job, whether it’s from the prosecution side or the defense side. Our criminal justice system does not work without both.

And I’m thankful to be alive! Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to subject you to these ramblings!