My Zoloft is working

Today I am not feeling sorry for myself or in pain (fell down the stairs the other day) or blue or anything--I just feel happy and grateful. So, I decided that I would spend some time talking about the people that I am grateful for. (Plus, the dishes need to be done and I am stalling)

1. Waldo--my esposo. He is my best friend and my absolute soul mate. I don't believe that there is only one person out there for everyone, but I truly believe that there is no one that fits me better than W. If I had never met him, I am sure that I would have found another person to love, but there is no way that it would have been this great. I can't wait to spend the rest of eternity with him. Plus, he is hunky.

2. The Jooj--Georgia Grace Galan, how did we live without you? I can't wait to see her grow up, to see what she becomes. She is just the most important baby ever, I think! Plus, she is cute.

3. My Mom--There was a time when my mom and I did not get along. I think that it started when I was about 7 and lasted until I moved away. This was mostly my fault, because I am an enormous pain to live with (ask Chelsea and W and Ricky and Julie). Now, though, she is one of my favorite people. She makes sure that all of her kids are loved, but she also makes each of us think that we are her favorites. (Except that I KNOW that I am her favorite. Besides Heidi and The Jooj). She is strong and nice and fun and wacky, and I am glad that she is my mom.

4. Papa Noel--I have known him since I was 12, and he has been my other dad since then, and I am glad that it is now official because it saves me explaining. He makes us happy and we love him. I am glad that we can be his kids.

5. My Dad and Step Jenny--I am thankful that both of my parents are happy and being taken care of. I grew up idolizing my dad, wanting him to approve of me, but not realizing that there was no way that he wouldn't approve. He drives me the craziest, but it is because we are so similar. Jenny is a lot like him, too, so we get along in the same way. I am grateful that she "gets" my dad, and also gets him to cut loose. I have really been blessed by such great parents!

6. Chelsea--I adore Chelsea. She is my sexy chicken. I have known her forever, and I will always know her. I have been there when her babies were born (though, happily, not when they were conceived...) and she was my maid of honor. I love Chelsea Cali Strong. I am grateful for her.

7. Jenny E--I think that we were put into the wrong families (although neither her nor I want to change our families, now!) because she should be my sister. I have never had the experience of knowing someone so much like me. She gets me, and that is an amazing feeling. Plus, she has some of the greatest kids ever. I still pine for Rae. She was my bestest buddy for a long time, and going to 7-11 without her is hard (although MUCH cheaper, because that kid picked out the most expensive, messiest candy available...)

8. Shannon H--I am thankful for Shannon because she is my hero as far as getting out of squallor. Every time that I want to spend money on somethign stupid, I think "You will never be as fabulous as Shannon if you don't get out of debt." Also, it is good to have friends who will tell you that you are crazy, to your face. I love that. Plus, she loves Joe Dirt, and that makes me love her more.

9. JuJuBits--My sister Julie is the bomb. I wish I were more like her--she is naturally sweet, where I am naturally tart. She is patient and kind and soft-hearted, while I am not as much. She lets me boss her around, even though I know she hates it. I am thankful that she is my sister.

10. Amy--my sis-in-law. She is the only way that my brother and I would ever get along. (before he met her I referred to him as "the Mormon Nazi..." and he referred to me as "Her? I have never seen her in my life") I love my brother and am so glad that she has mellowed him. That makes me want to be more mellow, too, which I am sure he enjoys, because, as I have mentioned, I am high maintenance. I am grateful that she includes my family in things, and that she is such a great example of following the prophet. I am grateful for my brother, Joe, too, but going into that defies the brother-sister-code-of-mutual-disdain that we have been working on for so long. But I love him and would give him a kidney if he needed one (though I would make him tell everyone that it used to be MY kidney, and was, therefore, a hand-me-down. He would do the same.)

11. Ricky--The brother that I never had (ie the brother that, possibly, would have said hello to me at lunch in High School). It is good to have him in our family, and I am grateful that we are friends. He has been there for me when my hisband was gone to Army (although, when I pointed out that, biblically, should W die, Ricky would have to marry me, he ran shrieking in terror) and he has helped out a lot. I am glad that we get along and that there is always someone that I can talk to when we are at family things! Side by side, goes April--united in in-law-ness we stand against the forces of Galan. I miss April and I am hoping that they get transferred to El Paso so that we can play together. I am thankful that she makes sure that Ricky gets fed and gets some sunlight.

I am sorry that I couldn't mention everyone. Know that I am thankful for you, anyway, and that maybe you should send me money and gifts so that I would be so thankful I would put you in a blog.