The hard drive on my Mac Book died and with it, a very precious document that I had been working on, and NO I didn’t have it backed up (*sigh*). My daughter’s favorite teacher resigned from her school. And my debt to sanity ratio is wildly out of balance so, sorry, Visa, ’cause I just don’t know when you’re going to get your money.
What a crappy week. I can’t decide whether I feel most like Michael Jackson’s Scarecrow from The Wiz…you can’t win. You can’t break even. And you can’t get out of the gaaaaame. Or, in my darkest moments of foot-stomping frustration, Mabel King’s Evilene, The Wicked Witch of the West. I want to growl at those creepy winged monkeys…don’t nobody bring me NO BAD NEWS!!!
How ironic that this is the week Frieda and I committed to making “Gratitude Lists” to celebrate the holidays. Nevertheless, what began as a grand cosmic joke has, surprisingly, become an invigorating challenge. Writing this list forced me to look beyond the craptastic circumstances of my present moment and think on those things that bring lasting value.
Kadir Nelson's artwork for "Please, Puppy, Please"
And so this year, in no particular order, I am grateful for…
- my baby girl’s perfect, tiny brown toes
- the way my husband laughs – loud and long – whenever he watches TV bloopers (particularly those involving dogs)
- any book illustrated by Kadir Nelson
- the opening chords of John Coltrane’s “Naima”
- the daffodils that used to grow in my grandmother’s flower garden.
- the simple genius of Marguerite Abouet’s graphic novel, Aya
- corn on the cob (Seriously, can you believe this stuff grows naturally out of the ground?)
- the vote I cast for Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States
- my first cup of coffee in the morning
- singing along to HBO’s Flight of the Conchords in my car
- the salty smell of the Chesapeake Bay at my “Home by the Sea”
- the personal joy of writing this blog with my best pal
Posted by Rich on December 19, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Okay, you got me. Here’s my ten:
I’m grateful for…
- having been able to spend six months in a new city despite a number of obstacles
- having made a new webcomic and getting a small degree of recognition for it
- my laptop
- online radio
- my bike, and as a result…
- … having finally lost some weight!
- a new Star Trek movie that just MIGHT actually be worth watching
- having been there for my family when my father died
- my new cellphone
- and of course, electing a president that makes me proud to be an American again
Been reading your blog for a couple of weeks now. Like it. I totally feel you on the financial problems. Keep your head up.
Rich Watson
Posted by linguist on December 19, 2008 at 5:40 PM
Claudia,
I bet I could give you a run for your money on “worst weeks”. But I’d never be able to compose a gratitude list so eloquently. Just reading yours has brigtened my Friday. Thanks! And hang in there!
Posted by Claudia on December 19, 2008 at 6:23 PM
@linguist: We should commiserate together, girl. Writing the list made me feel a bit better, but so did your comment. Thanks for your encouraging words!
@Rich: I’m psyched that you ventured over to this little corner of the blogosphere and you even shared your list with us! I am also starting to get excited about Star Trek. Please, please let it be good.
(Y’all should check out his webcomic! http://www.webcomicsnation.com/rich318/citymouse/series.php)
Posted by Wilhelmina Jenkins on December 20, 2008 at 6:25 PM
I am very grateful for:
good book discussions and new friends at goodreads.com;
Monday reading days at my grandson’s school;
sugar-free pumpkin pie for diabetics;
a dazzlingly beautiful fall;
Ed Jones’ books;
my Keurig coffee machine;
the tree demolishing the FRONT of the house, rather than the back where I was;
leading Bible Study at church;
my precious husband remaining cancer-free since his treatment;
the wonderful gift of family, especially the completely unearned joy of being a grandma.
I guess this year wasn’t as bad as I thought!
Posted by Claudia on December 22, 2008 at 12:07 AM
Beautiful, Mina. Thanks for sharing! And I’m also grateful that the tree missed the back of your house!
Posted by Jupiter on December 22, 2008 at 10:24 AM
I am grateful for:
The sound of my daughter laughing. ( I mean really laughing hard )
Playing with my daughter in the sun light of our living room.
Watching my wife and daughter eat spagetti just like the movie “Lady and the Tramp”.
A really really good song that has you humming all day long.
The quiet that happens right after a thunderstorm!
My beautiful wife’s Silhouette at night when she doesn’t know I’m looking.
The way the water looks at sunrise and sun set at my “Home by the Sea”
Posted by Carleen on December 24, 2008 at 8:52 PM
Glad to read this list on Christmas Eve…it’s what it’s all about! Sorry your week was bad, though I did chuckle at your comment to Visa. And you love Flight of the Conchords too??? Can’t wait till the next season starts next month!
Merry Christmas!
Posted by jo on December 27, 2008 at 9:21 PM
me 2! (i love your list, claudia; like a list poem!):
* that my mom is here with me during the holidays
* and we are getting along just fine and beautifully and soothingly for us both
* that my husband is perfect in all respects, damn him
* that jhumpa lahiri wrote Unaccustomed Earth and that i read it just when i needed a book to carry me through
* that barack obama is the new president of the US, thank god and all the saints in heaven and all the angels and potestates forever and ever amen, and will be, god willing, for the next 8 years
* that he plans to close that unspeakable abomination that is guantánamo
* that he plans to return to US to non-torturing status, thus rectifying one of the unspeakable abominations of the bush administration
* that the horrible horrible hillary/obama split was healed
* that the gay rights movement is experiencing a huge wave of enthusiasm and energy
* that i have a heart with which to feel the sorrow of those whose lives are less lucky than my own
* that there is always something i can do to alleviate those sorrows, even if it’s just a thought and a prayer
* that there is the internet, which is breathing fresh oxygen into our withering community lives
* that it is (still) free, and we can (still) use it as a countercultural, political, and organizing tool
* that i can share my love of books with people on goodreads
* that most of the people i meet on the internet are actually remarkably nice, and make me feel happy to have met them (reference to people present on this blog and thread entirely meant)
* that today my friend gina brought me an astounding chestnut & chocolate tuscan cake, just when i thought that my erstwhile gigantic supply of holiday sweets had finally and regretfully come to an end!