Thursday Thirteen

Today I thought I'd list 13 people I am thankful for:



Me and my #1 Dude

1. My husband. He is my number one dude, my best friend, my boon companion, my provider, comforter, lover  - all rolled into one big cuddly package. He is the best.

2. My brother. He is the only other person in this world who shares my childhood memories with me, and has any chance of halfway seeing them from my point of view.

3. My father. We don't spend a lot of time together, but he's still my dad.

4. My doctor. I have a wonderful primary care doctor. She listens, spends time with me, and gives really good hugs. She doesn't hesitate to say she doesn't have all the answers and will send me wherever she thinks I need to go to find those answers. She's not in with any of the big health care providers because she couldn't spend the time she wanted with her patients. She told me once she had been constantly fussed at by the bean counters for a big facility she once worked for because she wasn't in and out of a patient's room in 10 minutes. She will spend 40 minutes with me if I need it. Isn't that real health care? I think so.

5. My physical therapist. I have a terrific physical therapist who is caring and an expert at her job. She gives a lot of thought to my issues and comes up with inventive and creative ways to help me deal with my very weird and somewhat unusual pain and abnormalities. We laugh a lot together, too.

My friend Leslie

6. My friend Leslie. She has been my friend for more than 30 years, and how many people can say they have had a friend that long? We met when I went to work at the same law office, back in 1983, and have been friends ever since. She's a gentle and kind soul, and I am delighted to have her in my life.

7. My friend Brenda. We've been close friends for over 15 years now, which is also a long time. She keeps me on my toes and is always ready to lend an ear when I need a chat. She's a dear person.

8. My friend Teresa. She's a relatively new friend - we've known each other for about four years now, and been good friends for two. She has helped me tremendously with this health situation, and she was beside me when my husband was seriously hurt this summer. She's super sweet and I am grateful she's in my life.

9. My aunt, Carolyn. I don't see her much because she travels all over the country (and out of the country, too!) doing specialized computer stuff that I do not profess to understand. She's always been there when I needed her.

10. My mother-in-law. She has been a good mother-in-law and she raised my husband, so she must have been a good mother, too. She is going strong at 81 and living an enviable life for her age. She's in great health, too. I admire her ability to make a new life for herself after the death of my father-in-law, and how she just goes on and does what she wants to. She is a good role model.

Chris & Emory

Trey

11. My nephews. A three-in-one here, with the boys all grown young men now. Emory is studying medicine, Chris is a certified welder, and Trey is in college studying to be a nutritionist or something like that. I am very proud of all of three of them. They are fine fellows, and while I don't see as much of them as I would like, they do drop in occasionally to check on their ol' aunt and uncle.

Zoe'

12. My niece. She's a spiffy teenager, now. A beauty pageant queen and a dancer, Zoe' is the light in her father's eye.

13. Santa Claus. Ha! Fooled you on that one, didn't I? But what would this time of year be without that jolly ol' elf, and the lore surrounding him? All that eye-twinkling and cherry red checks stuff, and ho ho ho-ing. Isn't it fun? Doesn't it make for a splendiferous and remarkable bounty of color in an otherwise drab and dreary time?

And last but not least, I am grateful for you, dear blog reader, whoever you might be, wherever you are. I don't know who most of my readers are, but I know some of you, and I appreciate each and every one. Thank you for visiting me and spending part of your time reading my words. I wish you much joy and great festivities during this holiday season.




Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 374th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.