It’s Friday!

You know what that means!

Good Vibrations Gratitude Friday

1.  Celebrations
   

   

   

   I had written earlier this week about one of my best friends bridal showers.  I am thankful for the happy moments in my life and the friends I get to spend them with.

2. My Young Republican Friends
   

   

   
   
   This past weekend I had the honor of being invited to the New York State Young Republicans (NYSYR) Rising Star Reception.  (Now for those of you new to the blog, this isn’t a political blog.  But politics does play a role in Bryon and my story.  I have beautiful friends in both political parties.)

   Coincidentally this reception fell 10 years after the 2008 NYSYR Leadership Conference in Albany.  I know this because Facebook had reminded me.  I had met Bryon for the second time that weekend and that was also the weekend that our love story began though it would take me another 6 months to realize it.

   

   This organization also generously held a raffle to benefit my daughter’s educational trust.  I can’t put into words how much it means to me that an organization that was once a huge part of Bryon and my life hasn’t forgotten about us.  Bryon and I never would have met if it hadn’t been for the Young Republicans.  My daughter wouldn’t exist if it hasn’t been for the Young Republicans.  Some of my best friends come from my Young Republican years.  This organization has already given me so much and they still continue to give to us.

   This reception recognized all the young talent in the organization and it reminded me of my own youth.  When I gave my thanks, I mentioned how important the friendships I made in this organization both in New York and Maine, as well as friends I made at the National level.  During those months that Bryon was in the ICU and those early months of widowhood, I received so much love and support from friends from my Young Republicans Days.  Politics isn’t always “warm and fuzzy”, I asked them to take a moment to appreciate their friendships and not to wait until they were in my situation to realize it.

   Even though I don’t participate in politics much anymore, I do think it is important to bring my daughter to these events because people come up to me and talk about Bryon.  And while that makes me sad, I appreciate that they remember him and say kind things about him.  But I think it is important for my daughter to hear those nice things being said about her father.  He may be dead, but it is nice to be reminded that he had lived.

3. For everyone local who takes care of me.

   My neighbor always plows me out and helps me with problems around the house.  Bryon’s best friend is always ready to answer my questions and recommend people.  Another friend of Bryon’s mows my lawn.

   My house can be overwhelming at time and I am grateful for everyone who helps me.

4. Old friends

   I was having a rough couple of days (as you probably guessed if you read my blog) and one of my high school friends reached out to me to talk.  There is that saying that sometimes the best mirror is an old friend and I think that is true.  As I examine my life, I seem to have gotten in touch with a lot of old friends and these old friends help me remember that I was a complete person before Bryon and I will continue to be a complete person after Bryon.

   Bryon was not one to live in the past and during our years together, I lost touch with my past.  But the old me is still very much a part of me.  (I think I feel a blog posting coming on about this).

5. Spring plans
   
   This has been a long winter.  Bryon and I used to go away every winter on a Caribbean Cruise but I haven’t been on a cruise since he was alive.  Lately I have been thinking about it.

   I do have a lot of exciting things going on this Spring and Summer that include traveling, a wedding and…the second annual Bryon C. McKim Derby Party.

   More to come on the Derby Party in the next couple of weeks- stay tuned!

   And I have a bonus gratitude this week-

6. My funny daughter
   Despite having an epic meltdown when we got home from gymnastics (‘nastics class) tonight, I am grateful for my daughter and especially how funny she is.

   The kids in her class all wrote a book and her’s was titled “I Don’t Know.”  Her teacher told me she was adamant that that was the title.  The whole ride home she kept talking to me about how her book was called “I Don’t Know.”  She makes me laugh so much.

   

What are you grateful for this week?