don't forget to send a thank you note to life

The annual celebration of Thanksgiving came and went and mostly I was thankful for an extra day off but then I kind of gave it some thought.

So.. in no particular order, thanks for:

• Parents that were/are pretty decent human beings who made sure I had a clean bed, breakfast lunch and dinner and new clothes and school supplies every Sept.
• Family of amazing character on both sides behind them.
• A farm in my childhood.
  
• my beloved maternal grandfather. I've missed you terribly for 33 years.
  
• family pet cats. Duchess and Ming
• My maternal grandmother who taught me to bake bread, crotchet, knit, embroider, sew and raised my lovely mother- among other things
  
• My mother who always maintained it was better to be my parent than my friend. Now she is my best friend.
• My sister who gives me pillows that say, "I'm smiling because you are my sister and laughing because there is nothing you can do about it."
  
• My father for giving me my intellect and stubbornness and maybe some "issues" but I'd be nowhere without them or at least not wonderful me.
  
• my job for it's flexibility, challenges, frustrations and opportunities
• cheese- the first time I ever felt passionate about anything
• hostels- the first time I felt really truly happy was when I lived in one for a month.
  
• my beautiful Michael and for the last 5 years. I always suspected love could be so effortless and simple.
• the boyfriends of the past for I see now that it isn't supposed to be a struggle.
• old blues music you make me feel calm
• white sneakers, Levi's and white t-shirt- you are my uniform
• wheat and wild roses- you are my preferred landscape
• health- without you I'd be sick and sick sucks
• clinical depression- you taught me to be less hard on myself and to try and eat my greens. I love how you slink around in the background waiting to pounce again. You're so playful in your darkness, you funny thing you.
  
• Jon Penner, Sandy Smith, Rob Grant, Sue Foley- you 4 made up some of the best times in my 20's. They were roaring thanks to you.
  
• photography- I always wanted to draw or paint pictures. Thanks for filling in the blanks,
• mashed potatoes, butter and gravy.
• art nouveau
• Cuba- I loved you
• Scotland- you're hot
• my cool landlord's who care more about a community in the house than making a buck
• Ruby- the playful white cat that sleeps in the nook of my arm at night
• bird song and prancing squirrels
• bike riding
• friends in Edmonton- Tracy, Vince, Evan, Alf, everyone- you make coming home worth it
• friends in far away places- Bess, Heidi, Tim- you make getting out of dodge a possibility
• my blog. you need a revamp but without you, where would all this stuff go???