Thankful

Diana published this post last week about digging out old Christmas photos. In my process of doing so, I found this old picture of my sister and I from December of (are you ready?) 1969. I wonder what I was thinking? She looks so cute and smiley, whereas I've got a somewhat awkward and forced grin planted upon my face. I don't remember this day at all, but regardless am glad my sister was there with me.

I went through my photo album and pulled out some of the other pictures taken of the two of us, me and my big sister.



I don't know how she managed to escape it, but somehow my Mother let her grow her hair long, while in almost every childhood photo I have my hair is . . . short. Even to this day she has long beautiful hair whereas mine can only reach below my shoulders before it just seems to stop.



And although you wouldn't think it from any of these photos (of course our stellar sense of fashion is obvious ☺), I really did end up with the longer legs!


Even though I struggle with the packaging sometimes, I really am thankful for so many things in my life, very much including my sister. She has done a lot for me over the years, even when I didn't deserve it, and I'm hoping she knows how much she means to me.

Hers was the first number I called last weekend when I was busy getting ready to host my annual holiday party and essentially had a quiet meltdown. I started going down the mental checklist of all I still had left to do before guests started to arrive and felt immensely overwhelmed. "I think I'm having an anxiety attack," I told her. "Should I take a valium?!" She was my instant voice of reason, telling me to take a 15 minute break, prioritize what I had to do and not worry about what I couldn't. I did take that break and was able to regroup, forge ahead, and even though there were still items not crossed off the list by the time the doorbell first rang, I don't think they were things anyone (I hope) but me even noticed. Once again my big sister was looking out for me, propping me up just when I needed the support. Thank you, Bon!

And speaking of thankful ... if you're reading this it means you haven't completely given up on my poor blog, a casualty of the blur which has been the last three months, so thank you for still being here! I cannot believe we've reached the 23rd day of December, or that the New Year is just over a week away. I feel like I'm just kind of going through the motions right now, totally bypassing the customary glow of the holidays and ready for the New Year to start so this one can be over. Is that horrible?!

However you may be spending the holidays, I'm sending all good wishes (and thanks) your way.