Is it ever too early to give thanks?

I have so much to be thankful for. My family is healthy, physically and mentally. We have a home, jobs, pets, and enjoy each other's company. We laugh a lot. We volunteer. Life is good. It is something that is so easily taken for granted. An old childhood friend killed himself on the morning of 10/31. I went to the visitation to say goodbye, and to hug his family, with whom I still see and socialize with on occasion. I hadn't seen him since our 20 year reunion in 2004, and while I have a group photo with him in it, I didn't even realize he was there until after I had printed the picture. I have been struck trying to comprehend the magnitude of the void he felt in his life, the sadness, the hopelessness, the pain that would make such a permanent solution be the only choice left to him. When I think of him, he is always 13. We are always talking dirtbikes. His strawberry-blond hair is always hanging into his eyes. He has freckles, and he wears OP shirts. I don't want to remember him smashed beneath the wheels of an 18-wheeler on Oxnard Blvd.

So we spent the Veteran's Day long weekend out in the desert. A lot of my family on my dad's side were there, and Jess and Malin joined us, too. We celebrated an early Thanksgiving on Saturday, by deep-frying a turkey with all the trimmings. The motorhome was too small for everyone, and I was hot from cooking, so I sent everyone outside to eat, not realizing just how chilly it was out there. I'm pretty sure everyone got at least one serving of hot food before it began to get cold! We shared campfire time. We ate well, we laughed alot, and we were just TOGETHER. That really is the most important thing of all. I was having too much fun to take any pictures. The girls had a blast on the quad, and the boys were out on their dirtbikes most of the time.

We got back Sunday evening, tired, but we all pitched in and unloaded and tried to get organized for the new week. I picked up the stack of newspapers after the kids went to bed. I read the engagement and wedding announcements, like I always do. And then I realized that I am now of the age where I will probably be recognizing more names in the obituaries than in the engagements. I missed Pat's funeral, partly because I felt like the visitation service was enough, and partly because I had a lot to do to get ready for the trip. I know it is okay with him, though, because when I was throttle wide-open on the flats, I remembered him, and I knew he was at peace, and I smiled.

Heavenly

I'm in one of those floaty moods today, just riding the wave of happiness following a great weekend. Kind of the same way I remember feeling the first time John and I took a long weekend to Disneyland when we were dating. Isn't that hokey?!?

It was such a peaceful, relaxing weekend. The weather was gorgeous, and my aunt and uncle were just exceptional hosts! We have so much fun with them, I wonder why we don't see each other more often. Then again, maybe that is why we have so much fun with them. We always have such fascinating conversations, even more fascinating because we have such varying views and opinions. That's the beauty of diversity.

I didn't take any photos. We visited a farmer's market in Templeton, went wine tasting in Paso Robles, and spent an afternoon in Morro Bay. We shared some fabulous meals and wine. We watched the leaves fall.

Now I am completely looking forward to this next weekend, the "Thanksgiving in the Desert"! I've got to get the turkey tonight.

Wild Thing, you make my heart sing...

Tomorrow is our 17th wedding anniversary! We are running up the Central Coast tonight for a weekend of wine tasting in Paso Robles, and whatever other fun stuff we can find. Kind of spontaneous. We'll be hanging out with my aunt Yolanda and her husband, Jean-Paul. She was the matron of honor at our wedding. I didn't want to plan anything too elaborate, since we are taking a cruise at the end of the month. But I am really looking forward to getting away with my man.

Last year I made a point of posting an anniversary message to John on Nov 4, but I don't think I'll have time or a way to post anything tomorrow. So I will say it now: Happy Anniversary honey, and thank you for another incredible year. We are still learning so much about each other, and we are constantly evolving together, and I think that's pretty darn incredible. You really are the man I always knew you would be. PS: You make everything groovy!

Trick or Treat!

That's Dorothy and Buffy (the Vampire Slayer) - - without her stake (weapons are not allowed on school grounds!)