In no particular order

~Things for which I am Thankful~

1. Omar.

2. The experience of being born into motherhood.

3. Arturo and how he lets me be me and how he helps me be who I want to be and how he is himself, pretty much full time.

4. Existing in this generation in this country, benefiting from the work of feminists and the music of Pearl Jam and being educated both in the public school system and by some dedicated, open-minded nuns.

5. My parents and brothers and sisters and grandparents and niece and nephews and how our family is flexible about taking on different 'roles' - mother, father, brother, sister, parent, child - as needed for the good of our family team and each other.

6. My substitute 'families' all over the country at different times in my life - I owe my life to the people that I love.

7. My opportunities - I am lucky - it is SO LUCKY - to have encountered these situations in which  work I did in good faith was actually rewarded.

8. My training and education - how my teachers and mentors have opened my eyes to the truths in life, at the same time humbling and emboldening me.

9. Yoga.

10. Health.

11. Having ever lived in San Diego.

12. Having ever lived in Boston.

13. Having ever had hard times.

14. Being able to live a life that is of my choosing.

15. My In-Laws.

16. My memories of Grandma Betty and Grandpa Ray.

17. My sisters being here for Omar's birth.

18. My parents being so real and honest and growing so much as people and spiritually over time.

19. Omar's daycare provider.

20. That I am in a position in life in which I can fail a little bit without being a complete failure.

21. Wilson Phillip's song "hold on" - and the look on Omar's face when we play it.