Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and while it may mean turkey, football, parades, and video games, that’s not the point. The point is that we need to express gratitude for those people in our lives. Also, we must be thankful for the opportunities we are given (a job, an opportunity to lead, a roof over our heads, and a space to have our meetings).
Saturday I was grateful for the opportunity to attend Friendsgiving at Rob and Sara’s place. It’s the little things in life that matter. What better little things are there than great friends, great food, and great fellowship? I’ve been thankful that Sara and Rae consider me their sibling (Sara even calls me her twin). When she texted me that forgot we’re not related 🩸, I was looking for a sad 😭 reaction. I’m sure she was too.
Family requires more than blood, it requires ❤️.
Monday, I was grateful for the chance to have a great orientation at Giant Eagle. I’m also thankful that my new job is going to be five minutes away from home. But don’t let that stop me from being thankful for the job I had for thirteen years.
I made great memories at WIS and met some great people. I was thankful to work under some of them like Maura. Zach, and Chase. I was part of a dedicated Rite Aid team, served the company as a van driver, and was welcomed back with open arms in 2019 when I wasn’t quite ready for Giant Eagle. I began to find myself that year as well as one experience that opened my eyes to dressing better and opened my eyes to fashion and style.
2021 has brought me more opportunities to be thankful and they will be part of my top ten. I had the opportunity to meet Sara for coffee on a mild February day in Ligonier. I’m grateful for the liberation I’ve felt carrying a Coach purse. I’m so grateful for the acceptance I’ve received from everyone. I was blessed to be a part of Trendy’s one year anniversary. I also felt my cup runneth over when people wrote on my wall giving me Get Well Wishes when I was hospitalized when my blood pressure skyrocketed just before Easter. A week later I was thankful for the invitation I received from Sara and Rob for their upcoming May wedding. When I accepted Paula told me, “You’re family. Of course you’ll be there.”
The wedding was a perfect day and I was so grateful to be a part of the celebration. Spoiler alert: it’s in my top five of 2021. As my gender nonconformity began to take off in the Spring, I’m thankful that I can be me. I’ve gotten some heat from my outfit choices but for the most part I’ve gotten a lot of support as well. It’s really blown up since then. Spoiler alert: it’s also in my top five.
I’m thankful to Toastmasters and District 13 for finally getting us all together for the DTM gala at Westmoreland County Community College in July. I got to meet Sharon and learn more about the new Laurel Highlands Toastmasters club. I’m grateful we got the opportunity to dance and take our party outside when the fire alarms went off. I talked to Sharon about becoming a member when I visited last night. I was also blessed to be a part of their red carpet event and charter party a few weeks ago and made friends with some of the new members. A few weeks later a group of us met at the home of Ron and Sarah. We had a potluck dinner, played Catch Phrase, drank wine, sang karaoke, and disco danced until we couldn’t dance anymore. The blog post I wrote about this event got mega views too.
I’m grateful for celebrating another birthday and a milestone birthday on top of that. I turned 40 on June 30. I was given three wonderful birthday celebrations. The first one at Jean Bonnet Tavern with family, the second one a few days later at the Olive Garden with Sara where she gave a gift bag full of great stuff from her and her mom, and the Fourth of July when we had a picnic like old times and went swimming. Needless to say I felt 40 and Fashionable, Fabulous, and Festive.
Lastly, I was grateful to get together with my family and have a nice reunion at Laurel Hill on Columbus Day weekend. A day later I made my way to my little Stars Hollow to celebrate Ligonier Days. I ran into my friend Vanessa and her fiancée and we chatted about fashion and I gave her some new outfit ideas I’d been thinking of. I now have my new shackets, blouses, and even some dresses.
So tomorrow, give thanks for those people who made you who your are. Give thanks for the opportunities you’ve been given. Finally, give thanks for the memories you’ve made.
Happy Thanksgiving. Bye everyone. ❤️ you.
Stylish 🍒 