An Embarrassment of Riches

Am I thankful? Yes, I am. Because I'm lucky. I'm so damn lucky it blows my mind. I live in a beautiful, intense, bizarre city, the citizens of which are the smartest and most hardworking I've ever encountered. I spend my days and nights in a beautiful little chateau on a gorgeous street in the friendliest neighborhood I've ever lived in. I am seven blocks from the U.S. Capitol, an icon and a friend. When I need light, heat, or coolness, or music, or when I want to connect through the internet I only have to flip a switch to make it happen. I cook, read, clean, sleep, laugh, and dance every day. When I need to, I cry. For the ability to express and release sadness, I am very grateful.

I love my profession and am uniquely suited to it. I adore the people I work with and my colleagues at work. My "commute" is a ten-minute walk. My office environment is a beautiful, exposed brick townhouse, cozy, quiet, and gorgeous.

Though I rarely see them, I love my family, not only my sibs but my nieces, nephews, and grand nephews. Soon I will have a grand niece, too. I have the best friends anyone could ever imagine, both here in Washington and elsewhere. I have friends of all ages, from all walks of life, with every kind of world view you can imagine. Some friends I see often, others only every now and then, but our heart connections are potent no matter what. I am so well loved! And I have so many opportunities to feel love for the wonderful people who are a part of my life! The love flows in and out with ease. Ahhhhh.

My health is very good, I can still think (more or less), and actually I love being middle aged. When I dress well I can still turn a head or two. I'm comfortable in my body. I'm a shaman but somehow I have figured out how to practice that crazy spiritual path with good humor. Mostly I shy away from going off the deep end, something that's very easy to do as a shaman. I don't want to be nuts, you know?

I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

Today in the U.S. we celebrate our harvest feast by giving thanks. I am thankful because I am SO lucky! Oh yeah. L'chaim, happy T-day. Shalom.


I'm very grateful for the convivial atmosphere at the Matchbox bar.