Giving Thanks

I've been trying to think of a picture that will show how I feel these days. I suppose the closest I could come would be a heart filled to capacity with the love of family and friends; that still has room for the new and abiding friendships I am so cherishing; and that has one corner of emptiness, a space vacated but still occupied by love, concern, memories. That is a space that try as I might I cannot replenish with bitterness or revision, even when I think I have reason. And that's okay with me. I actually want to just find a center of peace there.
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Time does have healing powers. I look around and I see the faces of special people who make my life worth living: my beloved daughter Jess; my loyal loving partner JB, my grandchildren and son-in-law, my friends who never let me drift too far, who hold me and catch me and who have listened to my whimpers and confusion for what should have been too long, but for them it never was. I am lucky in love, very very lucky.
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But on this Thanksgiving I want to thank three special women, my spiritual sisters who I hope to hold on to until the day I die. They are special in that our friendship and connection together has come from the blogs. I wouldn't have believed it possible.
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1. I call her Pumpkin Pi. In one year she has become an intrical part of my daily life. We phone one another with one made up survey after another; sometimes I can barely get the words out because one of us is laughing too hard. You may know her as Studio Lolo. To me she is one of my dearest closest friends and I would do anything for her. She listens to me for hours, has walked with me on a rockyroad, again and again, and she never lost patience with me. We have a fierce protection for one another. She is generous, almost to a fault. She is one of the kindest people I know. She is super smart, not the kind of smart that comes from books, but from life and experience. And she is an incredible artist. Her art is heart-ful, soul-ful, wise, and wonderful. We speak a common language. We now know we can trust one another to be ourselves, even to disagree knowing the other will listen, will try to understand. I love you, Lo. I know what you're probably thinking: Iiiiiiii know!
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2. We met over pizza before we met in her treetop. She is beautiful in every way, her soft voice and gentle ways calm me instantly. She paints houses that fly and sing, in happy colors and sometimes they have wings. We are both private people who have learned the skills of being social, and in some ways we are both shy. I don't think either of us jumps lightly into relationships and I think we both take our time in the trust department. But I believe she feels the same way I do now: we are friends for life. I would hop on a plane in a moment's notice if she asked me to. She has given me the most balanced and direct advice in a way that is unique to her: it makes me stop and think, and it helps me grow. I always feel I am a good, a worthy person with her-what could be a better gift from a friend than that? I just love being her friend. I love knowing that she knows she can lean on me when needed. Oh valgal! We will meet here and there, we will share, we will be there for one another. Your friendship is precious to me. Someday I am going to pay you back for what you have given me this year. You can count on it.
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3. Well, I've never heard her wild Australian accent, I don't know the meaning of some of the words and phrases she uses. I've never hugged her or held her hand or enjoyed the sound she makes when she laughs. I don't really know how she dresses or drives or what her eyes look like when she greets her two beautiful white horses. But I know she takes the time to talk to me straight and true. She doesn't pretty things up, she is the first one to kick me in the ass and tell me to get over it. She has a strength about her that covers her vulnerability--once I called her a crusty marshmallow and I don't know if she liked that or not. She is just so real, so genuine. I see her as so courageous , so willing to be engaged in life no matter what gets thrown at her. She and I will meet in person without a doubt--probably we will sit on my couch and catch up before I show her New England, maybe New York too. Honey Hells, you mean so much to me. Do you know? I am a dreamer and you are a pragmatist. And I think our hearts like it that way. You shine a light in the darkness for me sometimes. Do you know?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. If you would like to write about some of your special friends who make your life rich, please do. What could be a better topic?
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Thank you Goddess. Thank you Universe. I don't know if I deserve these wonderful friends, but I accept them gratefully. I only hope somehow, someway, I give as much as I get.