Dear Everyone I've Ever Known,
What's up? I just thought I'd drop you a line on Thanksgiving instead of writing some list about all the things I'm grateful for like I did last year. Those things haven't changed very much since then, except that I got a new pen that I really like, so I guess you can add that to the list. Other than that...status quo on the thankfulness front, so I thought I'd catch up with you instead.
Some of you I saw this morning and some of you I haven't seen in a long time. Some of you aren't even on the planet anymore, but I don't think that's a very good reason to stop our correspondence, unidirectional as it may be. I have to confess though , I wanted to include all of you here in one letter, because if I didn't, well, it would be an awful lot of work to write you individually and honestly, I've got cooking to do. So, off we go.
To the people I'm in contact with all the time: I love you. Thank you for providing support and letting me do the same. A stupid letter could never adequately express what I feel for you in my heart. Suffice to say, it's more than you know, and probably for good reason. If everybody knew how much everybody else actually loved them, we wouldn't get any work done because we'd spend our days sobbing in gratitude instead of keeping our noses to the grindstone so we can make more widgets! Now get back to work.
To the people I've lost contact with: I still think about you all the time and have probably even friended you on facebook, and although we still never talk (because facebook is not for rekindling friendships, it's for posting pictures of babies and finding out if people are dead or not), you are in my heart. Even if you have only invited me to play Farmville because you needed another cow, I think of you warmly and I am always wishing you well.
To the people that I've hurt along the way: I'm sorry. I mean it. If I could undo whatever idiotic thing I did to make you feel pain, I would gladly do it, a million times over. I have no excuses and I don't expect your forgiveness, but please know, I am sorry.
To the people who have hurt me along the way: Thank you for being my teachers. Not only have I long since forgiven you, and in some cases forgotten what you did in the first place, I have learned to recognize the value of every knock on the head I've ever gotten. I wouldn't be half the person I am today without you. So, if anybody is out there still kicking themselves for something they think they did to me, please stop. Odds are, if you were to apologize, I wouldn't even know what you were talking about. Except for you, David Gilmore. I'm coming for that AC/DC record you borrowed in 1983, and there better not be one scratch on it.
To my teachers: Wow! What a job you had. The fact that you stuck with me, stayed patient, and saw any kind of potential in this snotty punk rock kid, automatically qualifies you for some kind of lifetime achievement award in my book. You are the antitheses of the stereotypical, tenured, burned out, half there, "educators". And a good thing too, because without your guidance, I probably would have stolen your car by now.
To the folks who have left the planet: Man, it was really cool to have you here. I miss you guys. I know some of you a had a good time while you were here, and some, not so much. Wherever you are now, I hope you've found the peace that you couldn't quite grasp while you were among the living. Oh, and feel free to write back anytime. I can't say that I'm not curious about what's on the other side. Also, give my dog Boyd a pat on the head for me, please.
Lastly, to my readers: Thank you for joining me here every day. I always look forward to reading your comments and the discussions we have. I consider myself the luckiest blogger in the world to have one of the most intelligent, well-rounded, outspoken, yet fair, audiences in the blog-o-sphere. Life is much more fun while you're here and I really do appreciate the time you take from your busy schedule to spend a minute with me.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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