Sadly, I will be working today, so I won’t be able to attend Thanksgiving dinner at my sister’s this year. However, I’ll be doing Friendsgiving with my closest friends on Saturday, which should be wonderful. I’ll even be *gasp* COOKING SOMETHING. I’ll let you know if I end up killing anyone.
And in the meantime, I’ll be at the comic shop today.
But I wanted to take this opportunity to wish all of you reading this in the States a very Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that whatever you’re doing today brings you joy.
I also wanted to take a moment and think about the things I’m thankful for…and there are so many things:
1) MY BROTHER AND SISTER
I have an awesome set of siblings that I know care so much for their little sister. We don’t get to see each other all that often, and sure, sometimes we fight…but they’ve spent a good chunk of their lives taking care of me, and I will always be grateful.
2) MY FRIENDS
I really do have the best group of friends ever. Friends who have been there for me when the chips are down, and friends who know how to party like rock stars when the chips are way up! I feel so blessed to be able to consider them all my Chosen Family.
3) MY NEW APARTMENT
I really lucked into this one! After unwillingly moving out of the house where I’d spent seven years in Astoria, and spending two months staying with friends and not knowing where I was going to end up, fate smiled upon me and sent me an acquaintance from college, Donya, who happened to be moving out of her affordable place in Brooklyn. I now have two great roommates in a lovely little apartment with fabulous amenities all at a reasonable price. I couldn’t be happier with it.
4) TWITTER AND FACEBOOK (AND THE INTERNET IN GENERAL)
No, really. I owe SO MUCH of the good in my life to Teh Intarwebz. I joined a theater company because of a friend I made on the internet. I’ve begun making a living as a writer because of the internet. I’ve made so many IRL friends on the internet. I’ve been able to embrace my geeky identity on the internet. I’ve been able to build relationships with professionals in my field with whom I might not have been able to communicate with otherwise…but Twitter is the Great Leveler of Playing Fields and has allowed me opportunities I wouldn’t have been able to dream of only a few years ago. Thank you, Internet, and thank YOU, Social Media, for making my Real Life better.
5) MY WONDERFUL EDITORS
Speaking of the wonders of the internet, I’m particularly grateful for the editors of online outlets as well as editors I’ve gotten to know via Twitter who have been kind enough to give me a chance and allow me to share my scribblings with the world. Thank you Kevin Smokler, Lisa Fary and John Dallaire at PinkRaygun.com, everyone at PopMatters.com, Pablo Defendini, Bridget McGovern and everyone at Tor.com, Examiner.com, Demand Studios, Barbie Brady and everyone at ChinaShop Magazine, David Pepose at Newsarama, Bart and Kay at Crossed Genres, Lynne Thomas, and Deborah Stanish. Thank you for your faith in me, for your wonderful, thoughtful notes and critiques, and for taking a chance on a newbie when you did. I hope I’ve earned your trust.
6) MY DAY JOB(S)
Deciding to leave my full-time day job in PR to pursue writing was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. Having to move out of my house shortly thereafter was even scarier. But after lots of resumes going out, lots of interviews, and lots of “While you were a wonderful candidate, we ended up giving the position to someone else” emails, I now have two jobs that, while they don’t pay a fortune, they pay enough for me to make ends meet while allowing me the chance to do things that I enjoy. I now get to spend three days a week caring for one of the coolest six-year-olds I’ve ever met, as well as spend several days a week working in a comic book store. Employee discount, what?! The way I see it, if I’m going to have a job other than writing at all, it should at least be something I enjoy doing. I love children, I love comics, and I now get to work with both.
I could go on, but there isn’t a blog space big enough for all the gratitude I’m feeling these days. As turbulent as my life can be sometimes, things always seem to work out for the best, and I am so, so grateful.
