Counting My Blessings

After experiencing a day of anger last week, 

I thought it was time to just take some time 

and count my blessings. 

I'm generally a very positive person. 

However, there are just some things 

that you bury deep inside 

that finally catch up with you. 

So the FIRST thing I'm grateful for 

is the ability to let loose and shout my shit

 to the world!  

It felt good to unburden myself! 

Thanks for listening 

and thank you for all the positive feedback 

and support I got from that post.

Today, as I watch the sun 

come up over the mountains, 

these are the things I'm thinking about:

I am so grateful ...

I woke up ALIVE! 

I'm so grateful for another day of life 

on this incredible planet!  

I'm grateful for my good health.

I'm grateful for my sweet, cozy little van, 

my little girl-cave, 

so warm and safe and dependable.

I am grateful I have eyes to see 

the beauty of the sunrise. 

Nothing amazes me more 

or starts my day out better 

than a hot cup of coffee in my hands 

while I watch the sun breaking the horizon. 

The clouds are fluffy, grey, white, blue, pink, 

and are moving swiftly to the north, 

and the skies are clear. 

It's going to be a sunny day 

and I'm so grateful for THAT 

after all the wind and rain.

I am grateful I have ears to hear 

the buzz of the hummingbird 

and the song of the coyote family 

singing in the distance. 

I am grateful I have a nose 

that can smell the sweetness of the desert 

after a rain. 

The creosote bushes are blooming, 

as is the entire desert, 

and the fragrance is hypnotizing. 

I am grateful for the sense of touch - 

that I can feel the warmth 

of my snuggly down comforter. 

It brings back memories 

of waking up in my grandparents' cold farmhouse, and not caring 

because I was engulfed in a foot 

of Ma's down featherbed. 

I miss that featherbed and that farm house 

and I sure miss my Ma and Pa. 

What a blessing it was to have had them in my life, along with all of my other grandparents.  

As I turn on my little Jet-boil 

to make my morning coffee, I'm grateful for it. 

This tiny contraption that sets up so easily 

and boils water in 30 seconds. 

It's so nice not to have to go out 

into the cold morning to heat water.  

The coffee smells so good and tastes even better. 

My mouth is watering 

as I think about cooking up linquica for breakfast, 

and I'm grateful for my sense of taste.

I'm so grateful for a loving family. 

My three wonderful sons!  

Even though we have our differences, 

we are a very close family, 

and I love that! 

We still get together for holidays,

and enjoy each others' company.

I know we will always be there for each other, 

to help each other get through life's trials, 

to love each other. 

They are all three good strong men, 

good providers, and good fathers, 

and I'm so very proud of them! 

I'm grateful for my daughter in laws 

and my son in law. 

All three love my sons deeply 

and they couldn't have chosen more loving, 

loyal partners to share their lives. 

I smile as I think about my grandchildren

 and how well they're coming up. 

Beautiful, bright, talented stars

who care about others, 

who are responsible and fun to be around. 

They make me so proud!

I'm grateful for my friends, 

especially the ones who continue 

to stick with me through the bumpy days 

of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. 

It would take too long to list all of their names,

 but they know who they are. 

It can't be easy for them, I know, 

when I go from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde 

or act like I'm the Three Faces of Eve

during a chemical reaction. 

You must be of a certain age to understand this reference.

They just buckle up,

put on their armor 

and stand by and are there when I need them. 

I love them for that.  

I'm especially grateful for Joe #2. 

He is my ex-partner, 

but remains my closest and best friend. 

He's the one person in my life 

who understands this MCS condition 

more than any. 

He's lived through the fires of hell of it with me, 

and continues to stand by me. 

Even though we have our differences, 

and some days feel like oil and water,

except for my Pa,

he is the one man 

who has been the most constant in my life. 

Oh, he'll argue with me!  

We'll have angry words!  

But when the dust settles, he's still there.  

His friendship has been gold 

in a world of rust

and I treasure our friendship.

I'm grateful for my talents, 

some of which I didn't discover 

until I was in my 60's.  

I love drawing and painting. 

I love sewing and crocheting. 

I love taking old ugly dolls 

and turning them back into little girls. 

I love sculpting wool and clay. 

All of these crafts give me great pleasure. 

I'm grateful to Ma, my grandmother, 

for teaching me to sew and crochet 

and knit and quilt - she also loved crafting. 

 I am grateful for my fearless sense of adventure.  

I love traveling and exploring

 and I'm not afraid to go it alone. 

I ran away to Puerto Rico when I was 17.

I lived in the Caribbean for over 6 years.

I've seen much of Western Europe, 

often traveling or walking alone.

 I used to dream and sing of Faraway Places, 

and I've been blessed 

to have been able to see those places. 

I'm grateful for the sun that is FINALLY shining 

and warming my van after a long, cold, wet week. 

It feels so good!

I'm grateful for my friends 

in this van-dwelling community; 

for Nelda, and Jerry, and Vern, 

and Gary and Ishe, and Suanne, 

and Merle and Pickle, and Sassy, 

and Sally, and Lois, and Karylee  -- 

and all the others who give me 

support and suggestions when I ask - 

and who make me grin at their various adventures. 

I'm grateful for this blog, 

where I can document and share my adventures, 

my worries, my anger, my joy 

and for the people who follow. 

I'm grateful for my cold pillow, kitty fur, Data the Dog's soft ears, flannel pajamas, soft leather, my chenille houserobe, my feet in warm dirt or cool grass, a nice hot bath, my grandchild's soft skin, the heat of a nice sauna, a relaxing massage, the flowers on a Portland Spring day, cactus blooms, the smell of cows and of newly mown hay, my memories, all those grandparents, my cousins, genealogy, 

and my love of writing.

I'm grateful for myself!  

There are some good things about me!

I know who I am!

I am a treasured daughter of God!

I have a nice smile!  

I don't hold on to grudges; 

I forgive and forget. 

I help people whenever I can. 

I have a good sense of humor. 

I am honest in my dealings with others. 

I am very brave. 

I am loyal. 

I share what I have with others. 

I do my best to be a positive person.

And above all, 

I LOVE. 

I love deeply and strongly 

and if I love you, you feel it.

This has been a great exercise for me.

My Ma used to sing a song,

"Count your blessings, name them one by one!"

You should try it.

It feels GREAT!

Life is good, don't you think?

Happy Trails,

Annie