#365Gratitude: Like a train station bathroom

No, no, let me be clear.  I'm not saying I like a specific train station bathroom.  Heck, if you've ever had the misfortune to use the concourse bathrooms at Union Station in DC, you have my sympathy, because they're horrible.  

What I'm saying is that this past weekend when Katie and Leah were visiting the "master bathroom" off our bedroom was like a train station.  People just kept ducking in and out of it.  At one point there were four of us in there up to various acts that one does in the bathroom.  (Like showering, or brushing one's teeth, or peeing.  In our house we save the making pancakes for the kitchen.  It's really a lot more sanitary that way.)

Anyhow, it makes me laugh, and feels sort of wonderful, sharing that space with people I'm connected with in my poly family.  It's busy, crazy, warm, loving, and intimate all at the same time.

For example, here's Katie and Leah in the shower.

I love that hustle and bustle.  It's a delightful pandemonium.

#365Gratitude: C that kid

Over new year's our girl Katie, her partner Leah (who's really also our girl too - we love her) and their son, C. visited us for the holiday weekend.  I love all three of them.  The last time I saw C. was for his birthday back in October.

Kids grow so fast, and change so quickly.  I was shocked at how good a reader he's become.  He has these "drink in everything" eyes where he scans the room and reads random anything and everything out loud.  It makes my heart skip a beat every time he does it, because of my lifelong love affair with books, and my deep, heartfelt yearning to read Harry Potter with him.  (Which I think I'm going to have to share with Leah, who loves those books even more than I do, which is really saying something.)

Anyhow, as much as C. changes every time I see him, there are some things that stay the same.

For one, he's ridiculously adorable.

For another, he really loves me.  We hold hands when we walk places.  He likes to sit next to me, and lean on me.  

He likes sharks because I do.  He likes Scrabble because I do.

In lots of tiny little ways, he tells me how much he loves me, every single time I see him.

How did I ever get so lucky?

#365Gratitude Day 365: Summation

My friend Ben is a poet, and a damn fine one.  I read a poem of his recently, "Summation", about what it means to be a person, at the end of another year.  Dogs have it easier than we do.  But we get by just fine.

I was so moved by it, that I decided my final gratitude of the year, which is for him, his poetry, and our friendship, would be to record it read aloud, and share it with you.

#365Gratitude Day 364: Heading Squidward

"Squidward" is sort of a direction for me. Missy always says that I head toward things I'm afraid of​, as opposed to away. 

I see that's true, and that when I'm able to bring people along with me, that makes it even better. 

Case in point: since my conversion to being a pescetarian, I've been slowly getting my sister-in-law, who's not real big on fish, to try new fish things. The other day it was lobster bisque. She was hesitant at first, but then warmed right up to that bisque. 

Go on, say bisque again. I did too, it's funny. 

Anyhow, last night was more of the same. Missy, MB, and I went out for a fancy dinner for the very best reason: we just felt like it. 

At the restaurant, I ordered a calamari appetizer (which my sister Pene's one relative famously and hilariously calls an "advertiser".) 

When it came to the table, she was hesitant .  I mean calamari is just Italian for squid , right?I reminded her about the bisque, she laughed and tried it. 

So did Missy.  

They loved it. 

We headed squidward.  

#365Gratitude Day 363: Sometimes people are really kind

Saw this on a friend's facebook page today.

"This vet had a heart attack back in September and Animal Control took his dogs since he couldn't take care of them. Since the man took so long to get better, the shelter sterilized the dogs and put them up for adoption. Now 3 months later, he's finally back on his feet. He visited them and put down a deposit (since he didn't have enough money for the full adoption fee). After seeing their reunion a bunch of volunteers got together and donated enough money to pay the full adoption fee and some extra, as well as dog food, treats, etc. This video is him finding out he gets to get his dogs back."

Beautiful.

Veteran surprise

This vet had a heart attack back in September and Animal Control took his dogs since he couldn't take care of them. Since the man took so long to get better, the shelter sterilized the dogs and put them up for adoption. Now 3 months later, he's finally back on his feet. He visited them and put down a deposit (since he didn't have enough money for the full adoption fee). After seeing their reunion a bunch of volunteers got together and donated enough money to pay the full adoption fee and some extra, as well as dog food, treats, etc. This video is him finding out he gets to get his dogs back.

Posted by Scott Johnson on Friday, December 25, 2015