After an excellent meal in an excellent steak house, Sweet Hubby and I decided to get dessert, which we usually forego. The most interesting item on the dessert menu was Hummingbird Cake, which I'd heard of but never tried. It's a three layer cake subtly flavored with bananas and pineapple, with a rich white cream cheese frosting. So that was Something New.
But really the focus of this post is gratitude. Given that it is the week of Thanksgiving, and to make the week about more than turkey dinner with all the trimmings and all the leftovers, I have made sure these last several days to communicate, either by phone or email, my deep appreciation to those people who have made my life better.
My first boyfriend, Tom. He was my high school sweetheart and, for a short time, my fiancé. I was fortunate to have him as my first love because he was and is a kind, intelligent man, and even though we were not meant to be life partners, we are still friends. I am grateful for him.
My best male friend Bill, who has been my friend longer than anyone else outside of family. He has an adventurous, inventive spirit and, when we lived in the same city, was constantly coming up with great ideas for what we could do for fun. To this day, he continues to be able to make me laugh like nobody else. Even living several states apart, we continue to stay in close communication, and next year already have a cruise to Hawai'i planned, another of his "Hey, let's do this!" ideas.
My girlfriends Christine and Teri, who have grounded and uplifted and consoled and encouraged me for more than 30 years. I would not know my life without them.
The writing groups which have made me a better writer and a happier person. My first group, when I and all of us were just beginning to learn our craft. We were fortunate in our mentor and in each other. We met regularly for 17 years, until I moved away from Los Angeles, and continue to be in touch, getting together when I go back there for a visit. We cheer for each other's successes, critique each other's new works. We have mourned the death of one of our youngest members. I have no idea what kind of writer I might have become had I not had this group as my foundation. And my current group, who bring insight, wisdom, humor, and collegiality into my life and my current work.
The group of women who came together when we all attended the same UU church, and who have stayed faithfully connected for many years now, long enough to have seen the death of one and the upcoming marriage of another. These are my soul sisters, my sisters of the heart, to whom I can always turn for guidance and light.
Reflecting on these and the many other people who have meant so much to me, I could just about melt from joy and thankfulness. How can any one person deserve so much goodness?
No comments:
Post a Comment