Grateful Blog

Today I’m grateful that:

• Thirty-six years ago today, my wonderful husband came into this world!
• Said husband has stuck by my side through the past year, which has not been the easiest. I appreciate it more than I can put into words.
• The way my husband wants to celebrate his birthday is something I truly enjoy also, so it feels like a gift to myself as well. Lucky me!

Today I’m grateful that:

• Someone is trying to do something about Mullah Krekar (aka “Osama bin Laden 2.0″), even if it’s not the right people, and even if not enough people are listening!

Today I’m grateful that:

• I have such fond memories of my time at “our school”, Holy Cross, that I can be in book club with all Crusaders and remember about 95% of the people they’re talking about.
• My parents get along so well with my husband!
• Home Depot doesn’t suck as bad as it used to.

Today I’m grateful that:

• Thirty years ago today, my friend Tracy was born!
• I only have to stand in line at The Last Drop at 1:30am once every decade or so. Only for you, Tracy!

Today I’m grateful that:

• Seven years ago today, my first nephew, Gabriel, was born!
• I was there to witness his birth seven years ago. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and something I will never forget!

Today I’m grateful that:

• My friend and devoted blog-reader Rachael was born on this date 34 years ago … even if she does sometimes smother me with hugs (see evidence below — that’s me in the middle, and her on the right).

Today I’m grateful that:

• My sister and her family were able to come down from Toronto to visit for more than a week. We miss all of them, and it’s so great to see them!
• My family was able to celebrate my nephew Gabriel’s 7th birthday with him.
• No one got injured by knives or sketchy swingset contraptions at Gabriel’s party!

Today I’m grateful that:

• Chad didn’t listen to me last week when I said we shouldn’t bother spending the money to go to the Sox game tonight.
• We have various connections to Red Sox tickets and are lucky to go to at least a handful of games (or more) each year without breaking the bank. Believe me, I know how lucky we are!
• I never got rid of my #5 Red Sox jersey given to me in 2003, and was wearing it when my old boyfriend Nomar pinch hit late in the game tonight. Also very glad I was not peeing or getting beer when he finally showed up!

Today I’m grateful that:

• The weather this entire long weekend was the best weather we’ve had since we moved back to Boston almost four years ago. Couldn’t have been better timing!
• We got to spend time today enjoying the sunshine with old and new friends.
• Charlie picked such a wonderful future-sister-in-law for me. She passed the friend test!

Today I’m grateful that (lots today!):

• We have a house and yard that may not be massive but are certainly conducive to gatherings like the one we had today, with the perfect mix of family and friends coming and going throughout the day.
• We made it to the Merrymount Fourth of July parade, the annual tradition in my grandmother’s neighborhood. This is the first year that my grandmother is no longer living in the neighborhood, but I hope it’s a tradition we keep up. Yes, it lasted a whopping seven minutes, but it was totally worth it. Where else on the Fourth can you see this:
• My sister and her family who live in Toronto and my other sister who lives in Maine were all able to be here in Quincy today. First time that’s happened on the Fourth in a long time!
• I was able to successfully hide the 35-plus-year old  M-80’s that we found in my uncle’s cedar chest from my brother, who was intent on setting them off after an afternoon of beer. I did not think this was such a good idea. Nice try, Tommy!
• We live walking distance to the beach so that we could move the crowd from the house down to the beach to watch the various fireworks displays from Boston down along the South Shore. This whole day was definitely the start of a new tradition!