belated gratitude post

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. I was too busy doing many things for which I was grateful to be doing to make my Tday gratitude post.

Those things included:
--Going to a 90 minute yoga class benefit for Second Harvest Food Bank - it was great to move my body in a way that makes me feel relaxed and powerful, and to help out people in need

--Making ginger apple cobblers with various levels of gluten for the various celebrations I attended

--Driving over the 17 in beautiful weather with the sun seeping through the trees

--Having Tday number 1 with nisaa and stevefava. There were many delcious and gluten free things to put in my belly and a small group of lovely people to chat with

--Driving to Crockett for Tday number 2 with my cousin who I had not seen since before I left for UZ the last time. She seems in a happy place, and her hubby just defended his dissertion. I met more lovely people and watched a very slow film version of Alice's Restaurant

Come to think of it, this is was the most Alice's Restaurant Thanksgiving that I've ever had. It was on the iPod mix during the yoga benefit, and the whole class joined in on the choruses (I do love a sing along), and then nisaa and S played it during their Tday festivities, and then we watched the film at my cousin's. What fun, even if it really showed that films in the late 60s had VERY different pacing than what I'm accustomed to now in the age of soundbites, ADD, and short attention spans.

It has been a big year for me. There have been many wonderful changes and opportunities for growth.

I'm very grateful for my family of origin. In recent years we have grown closer and more loving and forgiving of one another. I'm grateful that my older bro made the trip down to see me just last weekend. Blood family is a wonderful source of support for me.

My chosen family, which is scattered all over the globe, is another thing that humbles me with gratitude. My friends have awe inspiring levels of integrity, generosity, and wit.

I'm also grateful for my health; I think I've taken my strong constitution for granted in the past, but as I've seen freinds succumb to the trauma of illness, I realize just how blessed I am to have a life free from physical pain.

I'm grateful that I get to do what I love for a living. It is hard work, but so fulfilling; it is rare and precious to have that privilege.

I'm grateful for all the instructive losses I've experienced in the last year or so. I'm stronger and more compassionate for them.