Gratitude...Thanking you and You...

Filtered light and real light above my table. Will you join me?

Each year about Thanksgiving time, I pause for more than a moment to express my feelings about treasured friends--both close and far away--and, of course, families, past and present. Julian and Lucille Davidson, my parents, and Scott Davidson, my brother--nephews and nieces in various places with their own wonderful children.

One year it was a series of cups collected over time that reminded me of friendships. Now, the theme is sharper, with more feeling and less tangible reminders of it, as I buy my cups from Atwater's Coffee Shop in Catonsville, MD.  Perhaps the trend over time is to simplify and thus focus on the real, the genuine...spirit...stripping away things that are extraneous to joy and
self.

Ariella, throwing leaves and skipping in the Fall air.

 
Of course, I am indebted to my cats, Camilla and Jacuzzi. They keep me grounded.  Ariella, who brings me joy with her smile and confident pace, and her father, David Weeks, whose constant devotion has shaped this adorable little girl.  Wonderfully bright and beautiful daughter, Alison, in Portland, Oregon, whose focused energy continues to shape my life.  David Curtis, her partner, for his intelligent, patient ways (he is a sculptor) gets a big smile...and another one goes to his Aunt "Helen," Elaine Bane.

Nancy and Charlie Suter, whose community dinners here in Ellicott City are now legend...weekly and with peace, great conversation, and always, love.

Kite flying at Chacala Beach, Mexico

The Dancers! Danielle, Monica, Norie, Wendy--all the bright and beautiful women who go back to Mar de Jade, Mexico, when it seems so bleak around here and, in that almost sacred spot, experience together, the full force of flowers, sea and sky--and those wonderful birds. To you, Doreen Starling, of course...dancer, artist, friend, now in Roanoke, Virginia.  Peggy Handler in San Francisco.  Kaycheri in Portland, Oregon!

Sharon Crain, my wonderful many-facteted friend who lives in Catonsville--we "talk" online and in person as well as dance.

Lauren...far away in Annapolis, but gratitude sent your way with a big hug. Stacey...thanks...You bring rockin' spirit into every class.

Costa del Sol, Marbella, Spain. By Margaret Scott.

I feel continuous gratitude to artist and friend, Margaret Scott, whose work is so compelling that it is the main reason I tune in to Facebook in the morning. What's Margaret going to post?  To Roxie Munro, who shines every day! Her many Inside-Outside books and current offerings...

Kay and Yunji at Library, 2010

Denee Barr, whose singing is always electric or soothing, or both. To Liz Henzey and Trudy Babchak at the Columbia Art Center--high five!  To Emma Ostendorp and Yunji Zhu (I tutor her) from Project Literacy in Columbia, and ARC's Rhonda Braswell and the folks in our art workshops. We have such a great time. Rachel Coleman, fellow tutor--elsewhere!

RETROPOLITAN bathing suit display, Summer, 2011.

Sweet downtown with its stone and historic buildings in an intimate scale. I go in and out of shops. Thanking now Cindi Ryland, Rebecca Weber, Kate St. John, Evan Brown & Alan Biars, Lee, Kimberly K, Leslie Lewart (for THE WELL and earlier shops), Tammy Beidemann, Jane Phillips, Sheila Morrison, on and on...all featured at one time in a blog, but more important are the powerful forces that keep our fragile historic district a vital place to visit.

One view of the carriage house living room.

Kathleen, Jessica and Paul for making this wonderful carriage house available and enchanting for me, with its sunrise and sunset views.  Neighbors and dear friends, Maureen and Neil...April and Dave (Cooper and Nate), now across town, and Sally and Rich in Cambridge, but formerly pioneer settlers and major players in the designation and preservation of of Historic Ellicott City. Big cheer! Kathy and Rich Taylor, of course! Note:  Maureen, Kathy and I used to bike long distance together and I can still feel the hills!

Sheila Wilhelm at 1st Mariner Bank; Brandt Rider at The Columbia Bank; Mark at Safeway; Naomi at Wash, Dry & Fold...first-name basis, with hugs. Kate St. John taking care of "my kitties" over and over again, and, of course, Dan Kwolek! Robin Abello and his family!

Ellicott City! Yes, I leave, but always come back to "my" Patapsco River, relishing all seasons (Summer less so), even the turkey buzzards wintering here and creating circles in the sky, and especially the sweet deer families on upper Church Road and in this yard. Trees, sunrise, sunset, all a constant joy.

Travelers:  Cheers to Keisha, Mary Jo, and Pat from the most recent AHI trip to Spain and Morocco! 

Before I get dizzy on gratitude, let's go Online: Gratitude flows outward from my center to Caroline Gill, Wendy Webb and fellow poets in Facebook and in my life!  We have a good time and speak in "form" doing it. Anne Hilary Sanderson,  and David Norris-Kay. And, of course, Wendy Mary Lister!

Pink ball rising - sunrise in St. Petersburg, FL, May 2011.

Are you out of breath? Not bored, I hope.  I will try to wind up with a big affirmative nod to faraway friends, Mary Berglund, Jean Dreesen, Harold Midtvedt, Kaye Keeble,  Lora Robertson, Dodie Browning, Bob Fitzpatrick, Harve Newlin, Dwight Lawton,  Kaye Boren, Ruth Rossin, Mary Randlett and her son Peter, Trudy Sundberg...See, it goes on and on, as it should.  Love never stops, or shouldn't...as it is the energy that fuels our days.

My dear poetry teacher, Melody Gough...my thoughts are with you and Paula Pug.   But I must stop somewhere. The gratitude will not, however. And no doubt, I will be right back in here adding names and adding gratitude!

Green horizontality with geese.  2011.

Down to earth and on the water:  The geese at Lake Centennial...love your honks. Don't leave me...if if you fly away, please come back!

Kay Weeks
11.21.11 and revised 11.22.11