YMI

so, this year marks my 10th year from the landmark of graduating high school. i’m really getting old. i didn’t make my 5th year class reunion – my cousin got married that evening, so i was there clad in red dress and all. i’m not sure i really missed out on much because i was never made aware of all the fun that was had.

for some reason i was reflecting this evening on the lack of 10th year reunion. i saw a few faces in the “folks you might know” bar on facebook. yes, fb, i know them – i’m just ignoring them. but i wondered what they were up to and if they were happy. i started wondering how i could explain why i was happy. if i showed up at a 10 year reunion, would people be able to see my enjoyment of what life has brought me?

it’s difficult to know. i don’t have a superstar career; actually, i do semi-meaningless work though my employer keeps reassuring me that it does indeed matter. i suppose it matters to some out-of-work door-to-door salesman in houston. it’s not really exciting or fulfilling, but there are times when joy bubbles over – when a coworker hustles down to tell a great story, when a friend stops by to go get beverage and dish, when a teammate compliments my work, or when i make my manager laugh (usually related to idiot resumes).

i don’t have a gorgeous home. i have a nice place that we got at a tremendous deal, wingfield-style, that has a few more things to be fixed up once jj has a bit more time. my furnishings aren’t the latest trend, which generally matches my attire. i have a jeans-n-tshirt job and live in a jeans-n-tshirt house.

so though it sounds quite mediocre, why do i love everything that God has brought into my life?

the best i can do is: i’m happy with my life because the people in it bring increadible joy. i have a wonderful, amazing husband who every day suprises me that he can continue to be so good to me (while i continue to amaze myself at how bratty i can continue to be…). i’ve got quite a charmer of a little fella that can melt my heart with a giggle.

i have outstanding, true friends. one calls to bring me a sandwich at work, with pickles because that’s what today’s urge called for. one called to invite H and i to dinner because she knew the hubby was gone all evening, every day. another is bringing me treats tomorrow at work – just because she can. we plan fun events (with themes!) simply because we love to be around each other and we look for any excuse to do so. i really believe that some people are friends because of circumstances – there is no one else to really hang out with. these gals are friends because we enjoy the person of each one of us. and we eat well. always.

i have a super family. sure, we have issues. who doesn’t? i’d venture to say that if there’s not at least one crazy one in the tree then someone’s hiding something in a closet. but i don’t know many people who choose to spend their weekends with their parents and cousins simply because they really enjoy them. but we do. my mom loves to watch my baby. my sister calls to check in. my cousins think of me when they pass by a book or start a business. any one of the 8,000 of them would help me in a pinch. i love holidays because i can look forward to a rowdy game of cards and lots and lots of laughs.

so i guess i can count myself fortunate. not just to be happy with my life, but to also know why. maybe it’s time i thank a few for making it that way.