Thanksgiving… What A Wonderful Year

1. My family, especially Mums and Daddio: For never letting on when they get weary of hearing long, drawn-out descriptions of some obscure use of some obscure court rule that really excited me; for refusing to let me come home from law school a couple years ago when I got panicked and decided I couldn’t (or shouldn’t) be doing this; for believing in me more than I believed in myself at the times I most needed it; for unconditionally supporting me as I figured out what I “wanted to be when I grew up” and for being as happy for me as I am for myself now that I found it; for daily demonstrating strength, courage, incredible senses of humor, and commitment to family

2. My brothers, Lex and Chaz: For constantly opening my eyes to new ideas, new music, and new ways of seeing the world around me; for always challenging me, sometimes subtlely and sometimes outright, and forcing me to think about all those issues that I would otherwise ignore; for making me laugh until my sides ache and my cheeks hurt and I have tears in my eyes and can hardly catch my breath; for bringing me home a self-made pineapple and ham pizza when I crave it; for teaching me about the power that one person wields when that one person is so committed and passionate about an idea; for leading by example, and not waiting for someone else to change the world, but standing up and saying, “Hey, let’s do this. Starting now.”

3. My N8y: For your encouragement and support; for your willingness to stop by to help me carry groceries up the stairs whenever I need it; for all the times you remind me that the world really doesn’t revolve around me, when I start to think it might, but all the times (like my birthday) when you freely indulge me in that feeling; for your whole-hearted belief in my ability to succeed at work, at law review, at an externship that scared me, at every endeavor I’ve approached; for your backrubs that make all the tension just vanish and can cure the fiercest migraine; for all your help with The Rodent Army, and for indulging my urge to love them and baby them, even though it’s quirky and funny

4. Katie: For your beauty and humor and absolutely selfless and humble way of being absolutely amazing, you inspire me; for your delectable cooking, whether it’s a surprise batch of cookies on Pizza & Apprentice Night, or the world’s finest chicken & spinach lasagna, or a peanut butter pie that just might be able to save the world, or a mango spinach candied-pecan salad… the only reason you’re not Martha’s Apprentice is because we couldn’t convince you to try out!; for every trip to Starbucks and understanding without explaining the vital purpose those trips serve; for Izzy; for being a daily example of strength, determination and intelligence; for not being upset when I decided the haircut I really wanted was, well, yours (and I love, love, love it)

5. Mike: For every saved crossword puzzle from the New York Times; for all the notes from the classes I miss to work on law review; for the bottles of wine from various regions and makers each Friday night; for your collection of cardboard for the Rodent Army; for the use of The Pimpmobile to transport us to dance class each week this fall; for being a fabulous partner in class (one A’s in the bag, let’s hope for the same on the final project!); for your undying enthusiasm for all the details we might otherwise overlook (Wonderwoman and her various hairstyles, the possibility that the Olsen twins just may overtake the world, the wonder that is Count Chocula cereal, the fun that can be had from re-dressing a Marilyn ornament in new and creative ways)

6. My job, and the folks there who will be my co-workers and, for many, many, many years to come, my teachers and mentors
7. Continued success at school
8. My health, and the health of my family members
9. The inspiring and motivating examples of strong, intelligent and seemingly fearless women in the legal world (Rosalie Levinson, Laura Dooley, JoEllen Lind, Judge Mary Harper, and my future coworkers)
10. L., my fellow summer associate with whom I loved working this summer at The Firm, and with whom I will begin my career there (yay for the Associate Class of 2006!)
11. iPods + Best Buy. You know why.
12. Scholarships and loan money… and the fact that this is (hopefully) the last year that I’ll have to be Uncle Sam’s charity case until I start earning a living and paying the Uncle back!
13. Jilayne, who has made my brother so happy, who seems to soften his hard edges, and who makes his eyes light up whenever she is mentioned
14. The comfort that comes with knowing that I have a job, a family that loves me, a job, a hometown to which I look forward to returning, friends that “got my back,” a job, and… oh, have I mentioned a job?!

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and many wishes for a year full of things that will wind up on the “Thanks for This” list next year!

Labels: all about me, family, friends