ThanksGiving

Its Thanksgiving, in case you didn't already know, and although I am not sitting down with my family watching obscene amounts of football and eating even more obscene amounts of food, I still want to give thanks for all things I am thankful for. 

First and foremost I am thankful for my family. My mother is the most amazing person I know. She not only loves me unconditionally but she also supports me and hears me out on all the crazy ideas I have.  She listens to me talk for 2 hours straight and never acts like she is bored (even if she is.) She is a saint in my eyes and someone who I could never live without.  My sister Deirdre, she is my best friend and my worst enemy (only because we are so much alike.) She is my toughest on me only because she knows I can take it and she is only being tough because she wants me to be. She supports me in all my crazy decision making and although she will always give me her opinion, she knows that its my life and these are my decisons. She is my number 1 fan even though I drive her nuts.  My brother Eric, he is the best guy I know.  We may not always be in contact but I know that the moment I need him he will be there. He has always been the best brother in the world.  He may also be the most annoying brother in the world but its solely because he knows how to annoy me best.  My 3 nephews, Seamus...he is my 1st nephew and will always have a special place in my heart b/c of that. Seamus is EXACTLY like my brother and know exactly how to annoy me...however I am bigger than him and know just how to hand him.  Its almost like someone was smiling down on me when Seamus was born b/c since I was the youngest I suffered all the torture from my brother and now I get to do it all to Seamus :)  At only 7 years old he is almost as tall as me and much smarter than me.  And recently I just found out he likes to add dramatic effects to things...a boy after my own heart.  Braden, he is my buddy.  I feel like I practically raised Braden. I was with him almost every day for the first 3 and a half years of his life.  He can be an absolute brat (as any almost 7 year old can be) but he can also be such a wonderful kid.  He is so talented and skilled at so many sports...he cried because he didnt want to participate in a karate tournament and after a lot of persuasion he walked away from his division in first place and with a trophy almost as big as him.  Every day he impresses me and surprises me. And Cameron, my mini-me.  My sister's youngest is my child.  Not only did he look exactly like me as a baby but he also has my attitude.  He makes me laugh like noone else.  He took over my nickname of The Demon at a very early age and is living up to it wholeheartedly.  Cameron has a soft spot in my heart because he is the baby and can get left out of things. I knew that feeling all too well and will fight for this little guy because of it, although he can definitely hold his own.  I love these 3 children unlike anyone else in my life...no offense :) They are special boys who will always love me no matter what.  I also cant leave out my sister in law Nikkii and my brother in law Jim...though they are not blood they certainly are family. They are people who have made a huge impact on my life. Lastly, I am thankful for my dad. Although he is not here on this earth anymore it does not mean I am not thankful for him.  He has given my so much and has taught me so much.  I certainly wouldnt be here today without him.  He was the best dad a girl could as for. 

I am also very thankful for my friends.  I have to say, I have some of the most amazingly supportive friends and I couldnt be luckier.  For fear of leaving anyone out I dont want to go down the list of names...But over the years I have managed to make friends with some wonderful people. Some are friends who I have known since the age of 16 and have seen me at my best and at my worst. They have become more like family than friends because of all we have been through. Some of friends I met at the age of 18 completely at random because some computer automatically placed us in a dorm together or because we did a show or had a class together.  Some are friends I met in my 20's whether I met them at work or through friends or in a class.  Some are friends who I met when I moved to New York who were there for me at a time in my life where I experienced a huge amount of change after moving away from all that was old and familiar to something that was new and exciting but also scary.  And now some are new friends who I met here in London, people who have taken a chance on a small girl from "The Big Apple." 

All of these people have helped mold me into who I am today and without you all I wouldnt be here.  You all are my lifeline, my loves, my family.  For that I cannot tell you how thankful I am that each and every person I know is in my life. Today, and everyday I am thankful.