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When Jon and I got on the plane from Italy to take us home, the airline personnel kept saying, happy holidays. We both wondered what the heck they were talking about, what holiday? We had totally lost track that we were returning front Italy the week of Thanksgiving. And now the day is upon us.
Jon is feeding the dogs while I write this. We got to stay in bed a little longer than usual, because we were alone in the house for the first time since we got back from Europe. Richard, who dog and house sit for us, was back at his house. Trinity spent last night with her father. Darla, Lauretta, and Sherry, are of course spending the day with their families. Though usually we have Thanksgiving here and Darla and her family join us, but this year we are going to go down to Jon’s extended family in south-eastern Misourri. Darla was invited, but decided to stay up north. It is something of a drive.
I was all set to complain. To talk about how much I’m missing my grandmother, and how conflicted I still am about her. But a funny thing happened on the way to the complaint department. Jon had up a web cartoon that we read; Schlock Mercenary. The cartoonist, Howard Tayler, had written an open letter about the last year. His first year as a full time cartoonist, and not a full time corporate exec. Money wise, it was a hard year, but they made it. Read the letter, he says it all better than I do. It’s his year, afterall. But he mentioned in the letter how great it was that he could spend so much time with his wife and children. That he hadn’t really understood what true quality time was, and I have to stamp his card on that. One of the greatest blessings of working as a full time writer is that I was always there when Trin came home from school. That when she was very young we got to spend so much time together we would have missed if I’d been working an office job outside the house. Mr. Tayler has discovered the joys that I think I sometimes take for granted. I’ve been lucky enough, and worked hard enough, that I’ve been my own boss for almost twenty years. Hard to believe. I remember the early days when there was no money. I remember when I thought every year I’d be forced to go back to the office job I’d left, or one like it. But I made it. I kept making it. Good luck to Howard Tayler, and a thank you to him for reminding me that I have more to be thankful, than to be sad about.
Trinity will be here in a couple of hours. We’ll drive south as a family. Richard is staying to have dinner with his family, so he’ll be able to check on our dogs, so that’s taken care of. I am grateful for Richard, and how often he makes our life run smoother. I am grateful for all the friends I work with. One morning this week we were all in the kitchen trying to get breakfast. Darla pointed out that there were four different conversations going. I said, “Yeah, because we’re all lightning thinkers. One thought makes us think of something way over there. We all do that. Except for Sherry.” We agreed that she is our only linear thinker. It’s why she’s the most organized of us, and why we value her vision. Most business are always trying to find creative minds, but we got that in truck loads. We needed someone to help us think and plan. I am so grateful for all the laughter at work. Mary, Jon’s mom, wasn’t there that morning, but when she is, she just adds to the warmth and laughter. I am grateful for so many people in my life that are friends and help me think, organize, and so many other things.
DANSE MACABRE is finished, and my other friends are beginning to get phone calls, and remember me messages. I am very grateful that they put up with my periodic vanishing acts when a book is beating my head against the creative wall. I am grateful for Jon, and Trinity, and our puppies. Jon and I have been together almost constantly for five years, and each day just gets better. Trinity is growing up, and that just gets better. I love the person she’s becoming.
I’ll go eat breakfast now. I think I’m over the maudlin mood I woke up in. Thanks again to Howard Tayler for making me remember that I have so much more to be grateful for, than to be sad for.