Thankful

There are so many things that I am Thankful for. If I really think about it my list would, and could go to the moon and back. A couple of times. So here is just a small sampling of what I am thankful for.

1. I am thankful for Anthony. He gives me unconditional love and support in everything I do.

2. I am thankful that I still have both my parents and both my siblings.

3. I am thankful that I was given the gift to create.

4. I am thankful that people believe in me and what I create.

5. I am thankful for meeting new people and for getting to know the ones I do know better.

6. I am thankful for time.

7. I am thankful for understanding and patience.

8. I am thankful for a great big host of relatives that know of me, that I am still learning of.

9. I am thankful being able to wear flip-flops in November.

10. I am thankful that I am not in charge of cooking anything this year. (I tend to burn things)

11. I am thankful for my past. It makes me who I am.

12. I am thankful for everyone. Everyone's quirks, everyone's opinions. Every one. Every one makes my world so much more interesting just by being in it.

Whew!

So, so busy. Just enough time to raise my little head and say "Thanks to everyone! The SALE is a success!"

We are making room for our Valentine stamps, currently being given the finishing touches. They are pretty darn cute, I must say.

Okay. Back to filling orders! Don't forget the SALE goes until midnight Thanksgiving Day for those looking to gobble up some goodies. And NO CALORIES!

Tell A Friend!

Don't forget, everyone. The 25% off SALE at The Cat's Pajamas starts tonight at midnight and goes through Thanksgiving. Gobble. Gobble. Gobble!

Coming Soon!

Just enter GOBBLE in the voucher box for your discount.

http://www.thecatspajamasrs.com

Discount may not be combined with any other offers or discounts.
Purchases are limited to stock on hand.
Shipping costs based on prediscount total.

Mom and Dad

Yesterday was my mother and father's 52nd wedding anniversary.

They met met, like so many, after "The War", at college, in an accounting class. ("The War" was, in a sense, the end of their old lives and a beginning of a new life.) They married the day before Veteran's Day and shortly thereafter had my sister. Much later, when it was thought to be too late to have any more children, they had my brother. And then me. Surprise!

I've been lucky to have both of them in my life. So many of my friends have lost one or both their parents. And at their funerals I think greedily and guiltily of the parents that I still have.

Shortly after they retired they decided to move 25 miles away to Petaluma. They had lived through "The War" which savaged their beloved country, and spent much of their lives in the gray city. Now they wanted to see hills and country and breath fresh air. They chose Petulama. Halfway between my brother and myself and my sister and their new grandbabies. My sister lived in Cloverdale with her family and Petaluma was a good compromise. They moved into a house on the edge of a golf course with a view of the hills. Not only could my father have his hills, but he could have a nice green lawn to look at -- without having to take care of it. My mother became a social butterfly -- meeting other seniors at the senior center and taking trips to places she had read about.

Life was good. And they enjoyed it together. Sometime, I don't know exactly, my mother, always active, began to use a cane. And behind my father's study door the TV blasted louder and louder.

Recently, after a trip back to the Philippines I noticed how exhausted my father looked. It was natural for him to be tired after such a long trip, but he was very drawn and grey. It took several weeks for him to return to normal.

My mother, occasionally plagued with fainting spells, cramps and anxiety attacks, didn't seem to recover as quickly as she has. And the last week and a half were punctuated with 2 hospital stays.

Last night I drove my mother back from hospital to a father who greeted us at the door and fussed and fluttered about my mother.

"Happy Anniversary" my mother said.
"What?" my father said looking at her.
"Happy Anniversary" she said again.
He peered into her eyes and his eyes lighted up and he smiled. "Happy Anniversary"

Happy 52nd Anniversary Mom and Dad!

VOTE

Don't forget to VOTE! this Tuesday.
It is the most important thing that an American can do for ourselves and our children. It's not too much to ask in a country that gives us so much.
Every vote does count.