THANKFUL

I am going to guess most of you know where I'm going with this, but that's okay. I still want to say it.

This Thanksgiving is very special for my family.

This Thanksgiving could have looked a lot different. It could've been our first "without".....him.

Instead I'll most likely be swatting the second helping of canned cranberries out of his hand tomorrow and making sure he doesn't go for the salt shaker.

I'm still thankful for my health, my home, the rest of my family... but mostly, overwhelmingly, I'm thankful for his health.

In some twisted way, I'm thankful it happened-- or at least if it had to happen, that it unfolded the way it did. That even if he didn't have any warning then- we have warning now. I'm also thankful it's given me the chance to say all sorts of things to him I'm not sure I ever would've verbalized. I've always been close with my dad, or at least he was always special to me, but it was more of an unspoken feeling, than anything else. Don't get me wrong, I always told him I loved him, but I've never said all the other mushy things until now. It's brought us closer than we have ever been, and for that I'm incredibly thankful. I don't know how much longer we'll have together, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years.. the same can be said for anyone, but I do know that the years will be so much more special.



Happy Thanksgiving.

For my favorite.

Tomorrow, July 13th, is M's birthday.
He will be 29.

I'll be honest, I kind of freeze when it comes to writing posts like these because there's so much to say and I always see these perfect and mushy posts people write about their significant others and we're really not too mushy ourselves... sooooo I'll do my best to do the guy justice.

Dear M,

You're my favorite. How do I know this? Well, I couldn't spend this much time with one other person and not want to kill them. I'm sure you're thinking, "she sure seems like she wants to kill me a lot.." but trust, it's really very minimal in comparison.

I love waking up next to you, even if you're breathing hot smelly morning breath on me.
I love watching Dateline in bed with you and analyzing the cases ourselves.
I love the way you light up when Randy Hauser's "Running out of Moonlight" comes on the radio, and the way you belt it out so loud you can't even hear Randy-- I also love the accompanying steering wheel drumming and head bopping. (and I love that now when I hear it in the car alone I giggle because I imagine you doing all of the aforementioned).

I love watching you interact with our bitty... and it makes me excited to watch you interact with our kids. I can already tell you'll be the firm one.. which will be necessary, and is currently necessary, when I try to convince you bitty should sleep with us during the week, only to wake up at 3:00 a.m. to whiskers up our nose and paws in our faces. :)

I love being WEIRD with you. A lot of people say that but I truly believe we're the weirdest ever. I love our "language" and the noises you make and... ok.. sometimes I love your schticks. BUT I WILL DENY IT IF YOU EVER TRY TO BRING THIS UP AGAIN. hear me? Mostly I love how funny you find them/yourself when you're doing it.

Most of all, I love that I get to spend the rest of my life with you, because oh my god are we going to have FUN. Seriously.

You're my best friend, the love of my life, and I can't wait to see what the next 29+ years bring!

Happy birthday ya old fart.
Hope you enjoy your day of 'prizes. :)

Love,

Pickles.