In the evening, after a day fullof family, the kindness of friends, great food and laughter,
I sit.
Obviously full in pants with an elastic waistband.
Thank the Lord for good food. The comfort of lard is amazing.
I'm just plain full.
I suppose the thing I'm most full of is gratitude for having my family close in body, in mind, in heart and spirit. (Although, again, the food is right up there, y’all.)
For me, this year has been both amazing and a challenge, as I continue to uncover the mettle with which I am made.
But today, as I celebrated my favorite holiday without my complete immediate family in another state away from home, and I took many a deep breath to deal with certain folks, I really felt happy and thankful for the family that I do have.
Crazy as they are, God only knows what I’d be without them. They’re constant reminders, like signposts warning me of roads ahead. They are funny, which helps, and moments are rarely dull because there is always something (namely someone) to talk about.
The best thing about today, though, is that at any given moment I could see my mother’s face and feel my heart just swell. We are still here, still pushing, still smiling, still together, still living.
I saw her scooping up my young cousin (with her bad tail) and givin’ her some sugar, sneaking pieces of cheese waiting on the macaroni, telling me how to hold the knife to slice the turkey (makin’ me wonder if some things can ever be taught …) and taking her turn telling a story at the table as we all sat reclined trying to “breave.”
I can’t say enough how proud I am of her and how much I remain in awe of her grace, her sense of humor and her humility. To say that I’m inspired by her drive to get and be better doesn’t do it justice. I am just glad to see it, to feel it. I am so thankful that she is my mother, my partner in crime, my chief supporter and my beacon.
* * * * *
More things for which I am thankful this year:
Takin’ a bite out of the Big Apple. Friends of old and friends newly found. There’s nothing better than a rekindling, than commitment, than realizing that you so still know how to make friends – even this far from first grade. There’s nothing better than Instant Messenger, rapid e-mails and pages like these. Being a girl raised in the South. Never have I been more grateful for the slower pace, for the beauty of butter, the importance of including all with a friendly y’all and for reasonably priced produce. Finally getting a job in PR. I can’t tell you the bit of relief I feel in knowing that I didn’t go to college for four years for nothing; in knowing that, okay, so maybe it’ll still be alright even though I ignored that e-mail in my sophomore year highlighting all the world’s most successful college dropouts. Sample simple things at the end of the day. Toe socks, fluffy pillows, cozy blanket, a long-sleeved tee, some peachy sweet tea, and oh, the dreams that are still to come.