Thank You

Being the youngest with a 12 year gap from the closest sister, I spent alot of time alone with my Mama. Dinner was usually my Mama at the kitchen table watching spanish soap operas after work while I ate curled up with a Nancy Drew book. My dad was never home so we didn't have family dinners around a table. Something I secretly longed for.

So Thanksgiving was a big (huge) deal to me. We weren't a huge family so I had a habit of trying to collect 'people' to make it a grand occasion of sitting together around the table. Each year I invited someone new: the two girls from Texas that moved into the basement apartment, a distant relative home from boot camp, a friend of a friend, and finally college friends who weren't going home for the holidays.

My Mama never minded and would gladly feed anyone I brought home. The only time she said no was when I spotted a very cheerful whino on the bus. He was probably in his 50s, roly poly with red nose, rosy cheeks and probably about 5' tall with a huge smile that made his eyes disappear. He was soooo happy and to a kid like me seemed the perfect person to 'collect'. Of course, I begged and pleaded with my Mama who said we already had our own whino at home. Hee hee.

And I found this memory very interesting because at a glance it proves that no matter what I saw or experienced, I basically liked people. So when did I start disliking people so much that I started proclaiming I hate the people? No matter. It's all in the past.

Which leads me to what I'm thankful for this year

Thank you

To Anne who's become my artist mentor and close friend (and hope to meet in person)
To Beth who selflessly opened her home to me and taught me that it's not always about 'stranger-danger'...who has a way of capturing a person's soul in her photography and reawakened my interest in people
To Doris who has a warrior's fighter spirit and with her nude renderings shows the beauty in imperfection
To John who's become my spiritual mentor and picks me up by the collar as needed
To Kim who spreads love like fairy dust through her rocks and beautiful cards
To Laura who taught me to see my connection to the red road and spirit
To Lisa the first blogger I met in person and told me to paint anything I can get my hands on
To nacherluver for offering the horse (hee hee)
To Shelley my soul sister across the deep blue sea
To Silke who has become my spiritual confidante and is so preciously sweet

And to all the others who are fast becoming a part of my blog family; April, Barb, Lori, Gloria, Debra, Robin, Kiki and those who pop in occasionally. I look forward to your words of wisdom and getting to know you even more.

So I thank you for peeling away the scab I'd built over the years. 

Looks like I'm back to 'collecting' people; 

just in a more modern technological sort of way. 

None of you happen to be cute, red-nosed, whinos would ya?

I'm thankful for my family 

I'm thankful for those who are fighting for our freedom

I pray that everyone has something to eat today...and everyday

And that everyone experiences love

And never loses it

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. 
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude
of those who have lighted the flame within us.

Albert Schweizer

eat, love, and be merry