Thursday 13: Thank you for....

It's a week to be grateful. So this week's Thursday 13 is about recognizing some of many wonders in my life.
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For starts,

1. I'm blessed to have blog buddies with talent to spare. Add generosity to that talent and I become the proud and surprising recipient of gifts, mail, and all kinds of loving gestures. I am a writer: I have little to give back, but still I open my mailbox these days and there are gifts for me. My photography skills do not do justice to those gifts, but I have no doubt you'll understand.

This is from Chewy. It's called 'Magenta Crocus' and it came in a stand-alone black frame. I currently have it in front of me on my desk, after spending close to a month on my favorite table where I start my mornings and end my days. The colors are magnificent. I'm no expert but the 'form' looks perfect to me. I just love it. Chewy sent me this as a thank you for sending her a copy of my book, which she won for writing a silly poem on my blog.

. Oh, how I wish I could have properly scanned or photographed this. I tried. This is Ms. Em, a favorite of mine who inspires me to lighten up and live wide. She is the creation of Mim, who I must say I become fonder of with every passing day. Mim bought the first copy of my book. I always feel that she accepts me, supports me, likes me--no small matter, any of these. I will meet Mim and I believe we will be and stay friends.
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Another case where my photo does injustice to Marianne's mandalas. This girl is incredible. I look at these and I am inspired to paint, to draw, to reach, to pray, to fly. I should mention that for reasons I don't quite understand, Marianne is Emily Rabbit's best friend. One day I will be in Europe and I will make a special trip to meet Marianne in the Netherlands. And I will hug her the way you hug an old friend, because that's what she will be.
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Ah, this cactus. What can I say about my beloved forever friend Lolo? I put this plastic gold frame around this watercolor I so love, just for the temporary heck of it, but the presentation has grown on me. I don't know where this little painting will end up--it's currently on my mantle, but I want to be sure it's somewhere I will see it often, because with no need or desire to share the details, Lolo saved me at a time I when I was free falling. Our birthdays are one day apart and we are kindred souls. Lucky me to have a friend so talented. And so kind.
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2. My camera: I carry it everywhere these days. I still don't know how to do anything but set it to automatic, frame the shot, and click away, but I love trying to get it right. I love taking pictures. I love that I can digitally erase them and try try again. This shot comes from my trip to Seattle--it was just a shelf in a store but something about the shape and blacks and whites with a dash of reds caught my eye.
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3. The Sisterhood: It's a great time to be a woman. (I know this isn't true everywhere, and my heart hovers above my dearest friend Human Being--how I pray for her freedom to soar). I relish my relationships with fabulous, interesting, strong, opinionated, creative, sensitive, caring loving women. I would be incomplete without those relationships, and from them I've learned about deep love.
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4. JB. She brought this corner piece of a knocked down Des Moines movie theatre when she moved here 25 years ago. This woman has loved, supported, celebrated and tolerated me for all that time. She is rock steady and ornately creative. I love her.
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5. Dogs: If I had to chose just one area to devote my life's work to, helping dogs would come in either first or second. Their loyalty alone is enough reason to love them, but add the absence of moodiness and their sheer exuberance and you have a companion who's hard to equal. From what I can tell, Stella had 7 or 8 miserable restrictive years before she was abandoned on a town street and found her way to a no-kill shelter, but the wag of her tail tells me she is now safe, content, and damn appreciative. Like most dogs I have the privilege to know, she is a good good soul.
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6. These Book Reviews: Every time a new review of 'The Light Stays On' appears on Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com it is like winning an award. I am so damn grateful. Here are the two that showed up this week:
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Refreshing love story: Karen Jasper did what many new writers have failed to; created an original love story. Even better, the love is between two women. This is a quick read, partly because it's not too long but mostly because it's so good, and one that I would recommend for everyone regardless of who you are and who you love. I don't say that for many love stories. Published 7 days ago by C. Reed
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Posted May 13, 2009, 10:53 PM EST: It's really hard to find a good love story that hasn't been done before, but this is one of those rare gems. I would recommend to everyone. It's classy, beautiful, and original. As for the lesbian readers (like myself), fantastic. It's about time we have someone new to read.

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7. This total surprise stunningly beautiful baby quilt: It arrived yesterday. I had no idea. Except that I already knew Mim (see above) is a creative and special person. She made this quilt and chose to send it for Mr. Drew. The sweetest part of this is that Drew's room is decorated in browns and greens. My daughter Jessica will be over-the-top when she sees this. Mim, some acts of kindness just land in your heart and take residence there. That's what this is for me. Thank you so much.
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8. ThisPoem: It's only been three years since I've had writers in my life, since I've become a writer myself. And for me there is a special sub-division of us who love poems, who write poems because we have to. In Iran there is a poet named Human Being who has become my friend. She understands me and her caring surrounds me. Barely a week ago she posted this poem for me. It made me cry a bit, but it was so worth it.
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At times...
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at times
we fall down
not to be stopped from reaching
but
just to watch a little sprout
reaching out to the surface of the earth...
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at times
we are left alone
not to be stopped from saying or asking
but
just to listen to the song of a little cricket...
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at times
we fall in love
not to become one
and to say the same thing
but
just to repeat and multiply a moment of being.....
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"i wrote this originally in Persian (Farsi) about 1.5 years ago... now i put it here for my dear friend KJ... "
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9. The Back Roads: I just drive along these semi-rural roads and take in the natural scenes in front of me. I'm glad that I can SEE. And springtime is my favorite. I break through and come alive myself each spring. I've had a sad hard year (how many times have I said that? I'll know I'm on the other side when I fail to mention that. The truth is my heart got cracked open and the good news is it's going to stay that way.)

10. This Boy: He's now definitely two. He never stops, he's into everything, he can express his feelings and needs completely, and he carries a joy within him that leaves me hopeful and heartfelt for the future of the whole human race. I have seen my daughter--his mother--blossom in her love and sacrifice for him. It's all so good sometimes it makes me want to cry.

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11. Fruit: I never ate fruit as a kid, and I've had to learn to like it as an adult. But now I crave an apple or two a day, love a sliced orange with Sunday breakfast, savor fresh strawberries and blueberries in my yogurt, and appreciate the treat of a mango or honeydew melon.

12. Is it even appropriate to show a picture of my bedroom? But it's so simple and sweet I can't resist including it. No wise guy sensual-sexual remark is coming from me (okay, so it's alittle tempting): it's just a nice room and I'm thankful for it.
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13. And last, tell me now, who in their right mind would buy and eat a hot breakfast sandwich from Speedy Car Wash? My final thank you goes to myself for having a wicked good sense of humor. HAHAHA!
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