Life Goes On

I don't have any words for how all of your comments and emails made me feel. Lighter, easier, less alone. Responding has me baffled. I started to email each of you, but you don't all leave your email. Then, I decided to respond in the comments, but I worry that you don't have time to go back and check old comments. I'm settling for this: Thank you.

There's really no way to follow that except with something completely trivial and inane. A few nights ago, Matt and I were in bed at our usual 9:30 bed time. Sad, I know. Weird noises started above our heads. Bumps and squeaks and drags all overlaid with a constant, annoying whine. Apartments are revealing, but apparently our above-our-heads neighbors are nearly as boring as we are.

Me: What is that? I don't feel well. (Is anyone tired of hearing about how sick I feel, because Matt is tired of hearing it.) What are they doing? (Imagine a very whiny voice, I'm whiny, I admit it.)
Pause.
Matt: They're vacuuming. That's why it sounds foreign to you.
Pause.
Me: You really don't ever want to have sex again do you?
Matt: I didn't know it was option. And even if it is an option, I've got weeks of this first trimester crap left to redeem myself.

Approaching ten years of marriage, four or more kids, 9:30 bedtime and weeks mean nothing to our amorous relations. Aw, true love.

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Happy Thanksgiving. I hope the day was full of family and friends, good conversation and excellent wine. Drink a glass of wine for me?

I'm grateful for so many things, but in the world of blogs, I'm grateful for all of the loving, incredible people who have reached out to me, in fun and friendship and on serious topics. (Reach out and touch faith....song and late eighties alternative band for five points.) (Five points if you can guess the first concert I ever attended, in the same genre. Huge hint: My girlfriend, she's at the end, she is starting to cry...) (Five more for my second concert. Hint: If you believe, there's nothing out there to see, and nothing is new...) (Five more for the cheesiest fake concert I've ever attended. Hint: Like sunshine and rain...) (Last one, five points for the concert at which my sixteen year old self was most likely to be sexually assaulted. Hint: Party all night!!!! Sleep all day!!!!! (screamed, painfully, in full make up.))

Seriously, I am amazed to know women like Denene, who writes the perceptive and fascinating My Brown Baby. She's a professional writer (scary professional, books, magazines, editorships, oh my!) whose attention and sometimes praise leaves me flying high. Thank you for this lovely award. (I'm going to acknowledge the other one separately.)


And Pam of You're Gonna Miss This, an adoptive mom and, after months of reading each other's stories, a friend. We have the bond of shared experiences and shared challenges. Her faith, perseverance and strength awe me every day. Thank you!


And Mom24, who writes 4ever Mom. Mother, new grandmother, extraordinary meal planner. I'm getting to know her better as I read and it's a pleasure. Thank you so much for this award (the Spanish name of which, I will not even attempt to spell), but more so, thank you for the incredibly kind words you wrote in that post so many moons ago. (Hangs head in shame at tardiness.)




And Dysfunctional Mom, whose compassion for her kids, her dogs, her dog rescue calling and life in general keep me coming back again and again. She made this darling little button herself too, which involves computer savvy about which I can only dream. Thank you. I'll keep visiting, and not just for the cute puppies.


There's just something about friendships, about girlfriends, (although the same type of friendship and support can come from men), that fulfills and uplifts and buoys, across country, across oceans, across the wires and mother boards and whatever magical genies connect us all by computer. It's not just these thoughtful baubles (and the thought behind them), it's also the emails, the quick notes, the DMs and instant messages and comments connecting a whole (yeah, I'm going to say it, I'm feeling grateful, sue me) community.

Thanks for letting me be a part of it.

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We had a delightful Thanksgiving dinner with friends, which was only slightly marred by my constant nausea. I totally ate it anyway. Not that I'm complaining or anything. Matt. Turkey was perfect (awesome job D), best sweet potatoes I've ever had (thanks S) and, of course, the company was ideal.

This post is the official end of the get a package from AnyMommy in Saipan contest. Whoever is in the lead after these points are doled is going to win! AND, because I'm feeling all specially good and grateful and un-nauseous right now, I'm going to pick another package recipient randomly from the comments. Um, tell me your favorite TG moments. I'll give you TWO AnyFamily holiday classics. First, a few years ago when my grandmother got really, really drunk and fell over backward in her chair. (Sorry, Dad, but she was uninjured and it was damn funny.) Is it really a holiday until someone can't sit up straight in their seat? Not in my Jewish/pagan family.

Second, the last two years, because we've had gaggles of toddlers at our TG feasts, the moment when we serve dessert. There's this sudden, delightful, unbelievable silence in the midst of the noise and the chaos and the laughter and the whining. It reverberates through my soul and brings tears to my eyes. All of them, so quiet, so happy. Behold, the power of sugar.