30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015: Day 15

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015

Day 15

I'm thankful for Love In Action

I had the privilege of witnessing the joining of two souls/hearts/lives into one today.  This is one of the most moving types of Love in Action.  Birth, death, sacrifice, & compromise; love, laughter, tears, & hugs; what show to watch, which friend(s) to keep, why are your socks always on the floor & did you forget that that's my box of cereal.  All of these things can be counted on to occur in a marriage, like clockwork they will move through your life, but to have someone there to hold your hand/heart while you go thru it is truly one of God's greatest gifts.

To have a person stand before friends, family, the Creator/Spirit and say that I want to bear witness to your life and I want you to bear witness to mine.  We will be each other's record keeper, your life matters to me. That is such a precious and treasured thing.

Photo: M Antonio Silas 

http://Silas.Photography

I send thoughts and prayers out into the universe on behalf of Jenn and Eric.  Infinite wishes for Peace, Joy, Love, Laughter, StarWars, Comic Books, Quiet Evenings, Loud Hockey Games, Thought Provoking Theatre, and Fabulous Libations.  There will be more in your life that is to come than you can imagine and I hope that it exceeds all of your expectations.

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015: Day 14

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015

Day 14

I'm thankful for understanding people

Saturday I was not well.  My day didn't start out with me feeling all that great, but I decided to power thru and try to make the best of the day.  Sadly as the day wore on I got to feeling worse and more drained... I was out and about with people, but it got to the point that I stayed in the car and tried to have a nap.  My travel buddies for the day were super awesome and didn't try to make me feel bad for not feeling 100%.

Shout out to Bunn and Kharry!!

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015: Day 13

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015

Day 13

I'm thankful for the grace of meeting another day

There is not really anything that I can add to that statement.  I'm glad that I was allowed to be on this side of the dirt on Friday, for I know that there were millions of other that were not afforded that opportunity.

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015: Day 12

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015

Day 12

I'm thankful for gift of time

This November 12th marks the 10th year since my grandfather passed away.  I don't normally get overwrought with emotions on this day, but I find that I'm more at peace with it this year than in years past.  I think about all that's gone on since the end of 2005 and wonder about what "Jason" would have thought about it all.  Most things he would shake his head and grunt over, a good bit would get him to saying "My aching ass", and the rest he would probably chuckle over.

There were times when we would speak on the phone and he would tell me to go and look something up or ask me to go and find him some obscure book/pamphlet and tell me to read it before I sent it to him. . . This was his method of teaching me w/o me knowing.  LOL  I always saw thru it, but I would comply to the best of my ability so that he would get what he needed and he could give me what he thought I needed.

There are moments when I miss him so much it almost hurts to breath, the tears and the memories clouding my vision and mind's eye.  Thankfully they never last long, as I'm more grateful that he's no longer trapped in a body that betrayed him. A body that didn't allow him the necessity of drawing a deep unencumbered breath, or the simplest pleasures of feeling the sunshine on his face, the breeze on this skin, or his beloved soil on his fingertips.

28 years gave me time with my grandfather and allowed me to learn wondrous things from him. The 10 years since has given me a fuller, better appreciation of the special man that he was and the blessing that was uniquely mine in having him in my life. 

30 Days of Thanksgiving 2015: Day 11

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015

Day 11

I'm thankful for the opportunities afforded me by the price paid by soldiers

Yesterday was Veteran's Day.  The day that we take time out to say thank you to those brave souls for giving Uncle Sam ultimate dominion over their lives for a period of time.  If you think about it there is not really anything adequate to demonstrate the high level of gratitude due to those that defend our rights as Americans.  To have the cojones/stones/balls to defend that which may not benefit you, that which you don't believe or support AND the right of others to express themselves and their views on things/people/life, that takes a special kind of person.

With the the current tides, tones, and issues in the U.S. right now, I'm more in awe of the folks in my life that took that step than ever.  A step that most of of the population has never considered, thought about, or even spent mental energy on.  The basis for the step may have been completely altruistic or it may have been taken in order to set themselves on a better path than the one they stepped off of, my gratitude is the same regardless.

I don't know that I could answer that call

The 18/19 year old me could've done it.  I had planned on it, but was offered another road away from the place I was so desperate to escape from.   But the 38 year old me... Not so much.  There is SO much about the world that I can't stand / fathom / stomach / understand that I honestly cannot say with certainty that I wouldn't lose my Jesus and go Planet of the Apes on some dumb ass that's fucking off, based on the check that I'd have written to my Government.  I know, I know "way to bring the room down!  I thought you were a granola hippy?"  Yeah, yeah I am to an extent, but I'm a conservative hippy (that's a conversation for another day).
If it wasn't for the folks that have touched my sphere of existence (those pictured above), and the numerous other nameless/faceless souls we wouldn't have the freedom to stand up and cheer for things that you believe in or conversely voice our opinion or displeasure at something that's happening in our neighborhood/city/county/state and country.

So Thank You!

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015: Day 10

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015

Day 10

I'm thankful for my belief in the power of pharmaceuticals 

I'm congested and my allergies suck.  There for I'm specifically thankful for Sudafed-D and Zyrtec today, without them I'd not be able to breath.  As it is I sound like a 9 year old chain-smoking helium addict (yeah figure that out).

Meds please be a fence between me and this crud!!

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015: Day 9

30 Day of Thanksgiving 2015

Day 9

I'm thankful for the religious in my life that don't bag on me for not being all religiousy

I grew up being beat about the head, neck, and shoulders with: "...you're going to hell!".  Now there were so many slights that could preface the going to hell, that it got to the point where I was a snarky beasty and said "as long as you're not there, it's all good!".  I know, I know total bad seed and all.  But it helped me along to where I was like I'm not really into "religious". 

And then there were the Sundays spent in 3-5 hours of Sunday School... Yes you read that correct Three (3) to Five (5) hours of Sunday School.  My church didn't have a full time pastor, so we would only have church every other Sunday & even on church Sundays, you were guaranteed at least 2-3 hours of Sunday School.  Most understand that children don't have the attention span for all that, heck I as an adult right now don't have the attention span for that.  But then the cherry on top was that I and my cousin, Bunn, were often times the only non card carrying members of AARP or on Pension in attendance.  So I didn't understand that church could be brief (45 - 60 mins) or fun.

And then I got to college!

And in this mythical place I was introduced to folks that spent all kinds of time @ church and had fun doing it. This.Blew.My.Mind.  The bad part is that I again ran into those that brow-beat me with their religion and how I was not following the path!  Like dude what are you talking about, God is all about free will, he gives you options and hopes that you chose wisely or are willing to ask for assistance to find the one that's correct for you.  And then I ran into my church elves, the ones that will still love me for me, offer me assistance when needed/necessary, and let me pick their brains about God, Jesus, The Bible, Church stuff, etc.  I wouldn't trade these elves for nothin' in the world.  They understand that I'm not challenging what they do/believe and the path that I'm walking is my own.