Thanks

In this season of cold, dry, dead-looking season we call winter, I find it necessary to pass along some gratitude to some of my fave peeps, some of which rarely, if ever, read my blog, but that's ok.
1. To the vibrant and sweet Jeannine, wherever you may be. I miss you and hope you and the kids are well.
2. To my beloved "adopted mum" Debbie. You're the closest I have to a Mom left, and you've been the best friend I ever had growing up. You were an unwaivering source of strength, comfort, guidance, love, and humor along the way. Can you believe our "meeting" was 20 years ago? (Yes folks, we go back most of my life LOL)
3. To the only man that could ever understand me, the love of my life for the rest of my life. You are one of the strongest yet one of the most gentle people I've ever known in my life. You make me think when I'm jumping the gun, laugh when I'm too sad to, and... Eat when I just don't want to! Without you I'd surely not be here today, and without you I wouldn't have gotten through all the battles I've gone through, especiallly scarlet fever. Thank you also for understanding why storms were - and kinda still are - so scary to me! It must be a midwest thing!
4. To one of my closest friends online, Walter. You make me think when writer's block owns my brain. You make us all laugh once in a while too! You are an unwaivering friend that never gets too preachy, and considering that's what you do for a living, that's irony in a nutshell!
5. To my political junkie cohort, Tom. You awaken us all to the BS that IS politics, and give us all something to shake our heads at. Thank you!
6. To my sorely missed MaryAnn, my one friend in Ohio I could always count on for a laugh, and an occasional surprise bump-in laugh fest on the bus on the way to or from work. I miss you dearly and hope things get better soon. I wish you could get out of Ohio but I'm just glad Taft is gone *vomit* one Bush gone, one to go LOL (gotta be from there or know who I'm talking about to get it).
7. To my always optimistic friend Katy, a source of strength, a great guinea pig (thanks for letting me bounce things off of you), and someone I can always count on for a laugh. Sometimes life deals us a crappy deck of cards, and its our job to make something of it. You show everyone how it's done! Chin up my dear, because you never know when you're going to find yourself a millionaire! Hehe
8. To my beloved Mom, rest in peace, for showing me that it's ok to be unique, along with all those other things Moms pass along. Love ya, miss ya, and I'll be there shortly (just don't fret if it takes me a while, I seem to be stuck here hehehe).
9. (Stealing a line or two from a high school buddy of mine from back in the day.) To all you mfkrs who made my life living hell growing up and those who doubted me every step I took: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. You made me stronger, you made me more driven, you made me more gutsy. It hurt along the way but I don't regret it. You get what you give, and surely you'll get your dues soon enough. Meanwhile, the world can't knock me down because I already seen the bottom and it doesn't scare me anymore.
10. To all you I once knew online that either turned your back on me or on someone that I care about. Remember karma's a b****. I'm not mad at you, as anger only gets in the way. No hard feelings, just time to go.
11. To my wonderful neighbors, thank you for putting up with me, and thank you especially, E, for that wonderful birthday cake, and B, for the presents, though I told everyone not to. It was greatly appreciated and your thoughts warmed up a cold, gloomy night.
12. To whoever came up of the idea of putting wheels on backpacks, THANK YOU on behalf of all of us folks who killed our backs early in life for giving us a way to carry on without having to CARRY on, and those whose backs will never be as fkd up as ours!
13. To my cats, Curzon, Jadzia, and Nimbus, the sweetest, kindest, funniest souls I ever knew. You taught me compassion, love, and the ability to laugh through anything. You showed me that size doesn't really matter (thanks Jadzia), sweet doesn't mean weak (thanks Curzon), and not all the sweetest things in the world come in small packages (you haven't been accused of being small in ages Nimbus).
14. To the doctor who examined me when I had scarlet fever, thanks for not telling me just what it was! I didn't need any more fear, I already felt like I was dying, I didn't need to know I was! And thank you too for catching my ear infection while you were at it!
15. And to all of the rest of my blogger friends, I didn't forget you, but I decided by 15 I better shut up or this blog will never end... Thank you for reading the blog and the ones I send out privately. Thank you for your support, comments, ideas and humor. Your blogs are special to me, and I look forward to each one of them!
I hope each one of you are doing well, and I will talk to each of you soon!