Tuesday, 14 November 2006 - One more day

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for
one more day.

In a dream you are never eighty.
~Anne Sexton

Damn it!

My parents weren't suppose
to grow older - ever.
They were suppose
to stay sixty-ish - forever.

Now my dear 80-something mother is hospitalized, possibly suffering from a stroke-like condition called Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA.

Look out. Here they come. My emotions cascading to earth.

Tears.
Prayers.
Wishes.
Regrets.
Dreams.

(sigh)

In my dreams, my parents are never 80.

They are young.

So am I.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Zinnia from the backyard garden (October 16, 2006)

Monday, 13 November 2006 - High tech fabrics

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for high tech fabrics.

Prior to living in Colorado, I wore clothes made primarily from natural, organic fibers - cotton, linen, silk, wool. I also made most of my clothes so I had complete control over my fabric choices.

Now, we deal with wildly unpredictable weather regardless of the season. And, our love of outdoor activities means we're dealing with the elements year round. My sports wardrobe now includes tops, bottoms, socks and jackets made from high tech fabrics.

On the coldest and wettest days, I'm wearing Capilene, WindPro Polarfleece and Gore-Tex. On the hottest days, I'm wearing Coolmax, Supplex and Drylete. My hiking boots keep my feet dry with their Gore-Tex lining. And, on in-between days, I prefer to wear clothes made from fabrics blended with a little Lycra (for better fit and comfort).

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Sunday, 12 November 2006 - The best climbing partner

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for the best climbing partner - my husband, S.

As a writer, I know the value of an effective editor/coach.

As a rock climber, I know the value of a great partner/coach who refuses to give up on me (even when I want to abort the climb).

When I complain that I'm scared, he simply replies, "That's good."

When I exclaim, "I'm really, really scared!" he calmly instructs me to take a deep breath before resuming the climb.

When I protest that a move is too hard, he encourages me to try anyway. (I usually succeed.)

And, when I finally succeed, he graciously downplays his role, explaining that I (not he) made the moves.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Castlewood Canyon - my husband, S, glances at me from the top of the climb we tackled yesterday. He's taking down the top rope.

Saturday, 11 November 2006 - Veteran's Day

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for our nation's war veterans - for their dedication, sacrifice and valor. Freedom isn't free.

Valor is stability,
not of legs and arms,
but of courage and the soul.

~Michel de Montaigne

When our perils are past,

shall our gratitude sleep?

~George Canning

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Castlewood Canyon - looking south from my perch at the base of the rock wall we climbed this afternoon

Friday, 10 November 2006 - The Sartorialist

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for The Sartorialist. http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

Although I love fashion and shopping, my budget doesn't allow any indulgences - including magazines. So, I was elated to find this website.

I check it daily, even before I open my main emailbox. Can't wait to see what fashion photographer, Scott Schuman, has in store for us today. The photos are marvelous and the narratives, thoughtful and insightful. The site satisfies my fashionista cravings. It also saves me the time I would have wasted leafing through a current edition of Vogue or InStyle one more time.

Thank you, Sartorialist.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Thursday, 09 November 2006 - True charity

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for true charity.

Charity sees the need not the cause.
~German Proverb

Do not withhold good from those
to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
Do not say to your neighbor,
"Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it" -
when you have it with you.
~Proverbs 3:27-28

When a someone needs help, I try to give from my heart. However, my mind has been known to question the cause.

So, I am deeply humbled by truly charitable people and organizations that see the need and not the cause.

Note that I did not include the church as a truly charitable entity. I know too many people who have sought help from a church (including the mega ones) only to be judged and shamed by their requests.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - duck pond, blue skies and snowcapped Pikes Peak

Wednesday, 08 November 2006 - A new day

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a new day.

Americans spoke loudly and clearly during yesterday's midterm election. As a longtime Democrat (who often sits on the sidelines in very conservative, very Republican Colorado Springs), I'm pleased to see more blue than red on our nation's the political landscape. And, I'm elated to see a woman politician in a very powerful position (I'm with you, Nancy Pelosi).

Is this a new day dawning in America? I hope so.

I won't forget, however, that ultimately, actions speak louder than words. And, the proof is always in the pudding.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon - sunshine and blue skies reign - a perfect day to rock climb

Tuesday, 07 November 2006 - The right to vote

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for the right to vote and opportunities to exercise that right.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Monday, 06 November 2006 - Final day of campaigning

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for the final day of campaigning for the 2006 midterm election - too much mudslinging - enough is enough!

Let us all resolve:
First to attain the grace of silence;
Second to deem all fault-finding that does no good a sin...
Third to practice the grace and virtue of praise.
~Harriet Beecher Stowe

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Sunday, 05 November 2006 - The right decision

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for the right decision.

Choices are the hinges of destiny. ~Edwin Markham

Life is the sum of all your choices. ~Albert Camus

I am currently wrestling with a life-changing decision. The struggle to do the best thing is so difficult. Hopefully, in the light of day, my new path will be clearly marked, and I'll be ready to move on.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Saturday, 04 November 2006 - Sore feet

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for sore feet - evidence that, on this chilly afternoon, I climbed hard and long in Red Rock Canyon.

For this blessing, I am thankful.

Amen.

Photo: Red Rock Canyon

Friday, 03 November 2006 - Suspense

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for suspense, the kind I experience with a really good "whodunit" novel, movie or espisode of the PBS show, Mystery!. My husband, on the other hand, likes to second guess Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple (occasionally ruining the ending for me).

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Caught in the act! T drinks melted snow from one of my water collection bins.

Thursday, 02 November 2006 - A nut brown ale, please

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for a glass of beer (as long as it's a nut brown ale because I don't like "hoppy" brews - can't stand the bitter aftertaste).

Draft beer, not people. ~Author Unknown

First, let me set the record straight. I am not a beer-lover even though I'm a member of Old Chicago's Hall of Foam (I managed to finish one World Beer Tour soon after we moved to Colorado). My husband, S, is the real deal - an authentic beer connoisseur (he finished three Tours and, once upon a time, actually brewed his own beer).

When I drink, I prefer red wine (usually a Shiraz or Merlot), homemade Irish cream liquor (my own recipe), or margaritas made with premium tequila (again, my own recipe).

But, when we're socializing with our cycling and climbing buddies, microbrews are the beverages du jour. Plus, beer tastes great with homemade pizza, grilled brats, buffalo burgers, sushi and football.

One nut brown ale, please.

Amen.

Wednesday, 01 November 2006 - The right words

Dear God:

Today, I am thankful for the right words.

Words, like Nature, half reveal
And half conceal the Soul within.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson

It's evening and I am still searching for the right words. You know the ones.

The words that will state my intentions - perfectly.
The words that will describe how I feel - exactly.
The words that will express my opinion - precisely.

The words that will launch a new poem, one well-written sentence or the next great American novel.

The words that are dancing on the tip of my tongue and teasing the tips of my fingers.

For this blessing, I am grateful.

Amen.

Photo: Garden of the Gods - Montezuma's Tower (part of the Three Graces)