I’m writing on American Thanksgiving Day. So allow me to cut from all the random stuff that is spinning in my back brain to a simpler message. I thank you all for reading this.
The pic above is my family of birth, the McMahons of Akron, Catonsville, and myself, from Orange. And Amanda’s mom, Karen Sodoma. The cool thing about this picture is that the food hasn’t been served yet. Because it’s about the people. No matter how good turkey and stuffing is, how well the gravy came out or didn’t, who made which pies, it’s about the people we have in our lives. To love and be loved, that is the gift.
Very snow covered car, viewed from warm and toasty home
Please don’t misunderstand. I have so many things to be thankful for, and I know it. They include having a network to fall back upon when things aren’t good. That network, especially my supportive family, means that I still have a house, food to eat, oil to heat my house, a car that’s safe to drive, my mental health.
FIT Illustration students, painting the wall on 28th street
I have a good job that I mostly love. That allows me to work with some of the most talented people in the world, and some of the coolest materials, in the most interesting city. That gives me terrific health care, and the support to get through some very rough times.
Bill McMahon, ready to watch a playoff game, 2016
But what I am most thankful for is the amazing groups of people I have had the privilege to spend gobs of my free time with. Some of them are in that picture above. My brother is one of the kindest, funniest men I know, which he got from my father, one of the quirkiest, and my mother, one of the most giving.
I am lucky to also have a family of choice which includes some of the funniest, most sane, most creative men and women I have ever met. I know, I know, I talk about them all the time. But they are worth mentioning again.
Here they are again, in all of their awesomeness. That’s Kasia, Dan, Julie, Heidi, Linda, Tori, Rae, Dave, Nasir, Shara, Paul, Mary, (me), Kris, Nancy, & Nicole. And more showed up that night, helping me celebrate my fiftieth birthday.
We’ve had some other pretty fab occasions, too. Here’s Susan’s wedding, just a group shot of us chicks…
Yeah, I know. We kill us! We do laugh at each other’s jokes a lot, making everything both self-referential, an in joke, and probably a bit ludicrous to the rest of you. But we are having your fun for you, anyway. We noticed it just sitting there, so we just grabbed it.
Happy Thanksgiving! Spent with Shara and Nas, xxoo
I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!
Leave a Reply