Blessings

This hasn’t been a good year.  The hardest part was the death of my husband.  I still mourn that.   Then, when I was nomnated for a top honor for THE WELCOME COMMITTEE OF BUTTERNUT CREEK and planned to go to the conference in Atlanta to attend the conference and award ceremony, I had a detached retina which meant I couldn’t fly until three days after that ceremony.  A disappointment.

But, in the midst of these months, there were many, many blessings.  Let me count them for you.

1)  I got to spend forty-seven years with the finest, sexiest, most intelligent and delightful man in the world.  Not every second was marvelous but the whole experience changed me and made me a better, happier, more self-confident person.

2)  My friends have been so wonderful.  Church friends, writing friends, long-time friends have written me and supported me, come by when I was hysterical, held my hand, called and sent me flowers.  I have been so very blessed by all of them.

3)  George’s family and best friend dropped everything and came to Texas.  They took care of me, stayed with George, and I will always remember their love and concern and how much their presence meant to George.

4)  I was nominated for a RITA, something I thought would never, never happen.   My career has not be a long series of successes.  In twelve years, ten of my books have been published.  My friend Tracy Wolff writes that many in a week–every one of them great.   Exactly three weeks after George’s funeral, I received the call my book was nominated.   I didn’t even realize that was the day RITA calls were being made.  I didn’t answer the first call because I screen calls and didn’t recognize the number.   I only answered the second call to ask this person not to bother me again.   But the fact remains:  I was nominated for a RITA.  That overwhelmed me and continues to.

5)  I have enough to eat, a nice apartment, a car that runs, and two darling cats that keep my company.   Those facts put me in a small percentage of the world’s population.  Although this feels like a blessing, I’m haunted by those who go to bed hungry, who live in a box or hovel, who have no health care or or future.

6)   For a person my age, I’m fairly healthy.  I try to swim four or five times a week in a pool only steps from my apartment.   I know lots of specialists who watch over my health and keep me running.

7)  And my CARDS won the NCAA basketball championship!

And I know there are more but these are at the top of my list.  Many thanks to all of you who’ve been parts of those blessings.

10 thoughts on “Blessings

  1. I have so many blessings that I can’t count them, but I try to acknowledge a few every day–especially on those days I want to go out and eat worms. My greatest blessings are people who have influenced my life. And you, dear Jane, are always like a ray of sunshine that warms me. Thanks.

    1. Thank you, Jan! Please call me next time you feel like eating worms and I’ll try to talk you out of that–or join you.

  2. I was so sorry not to find you at the Literacy Signing! I went looking and was saddened that you weren’t there. I had read your books and found them delightful and wanted to tell you so in person. All my best wishes for you and may your blessings continue to light up what is a difficult time.

    1. Thank you, Elizabeth! I would have loved to meet and thank you. I was dissapointed not to be there. The good news is that I have bene cleared to fly–not that I’m going any place.

  3. This is so sweet, Jane, and it is a wonderful reminder to us all about how very fortunate we are living here in America. I wake up each morning and make it a point to think of 5 things I am grateful for. It makes the day go better.

    1. I seldom remember to remember my blessings. I need to do that more often. Thanks for you call.

  4. And this, Jane, is one of the many reasons why we love you – your determination to proceed with gratitude and joy, even when happiness is elusive.

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