Samira

at this exact moment i am grateful for:

• a good night’s rest last night, which helped me kick ass today
• finishing up my 2007 taxes
• staying on track with building my new savings account, putting away 20% of my earnings each paycheck
• my job, my colleagues & the growth we’re experiencing
• kelly, who just plain rocks my socks off–she’s such a wonderful friend
• my relationship with todd, from which i continue to grow and learn
• todd, who continues to crack me open with his tiniest of gestures
• my colleague chris, who left the company last friday after 6 1/2 years–
  his absence this week really crystallized for me how important it is to love your job:
  over the past 4 years i’ve spent more time with some of my colleagues than with my family
  and even some friends. we spend a large percentage of lives at work.
  please do something you enjoy!
• my cat. she is perfect.
• mateo, for knowing where (and when)  to find me.
• belen, for reaching out & being so wonderfully up front and open in her communications
  (whether it concerns beer & pizza, or deep and personal matters)
• luscious (no particular reason. she just makes me happy)

i know there’s more, but this is a good start.

sam

In reflecting on my nice weekend i just had,
i am grateful for:

* getting silly with everyone after pearl’s alley on friday.
* todd and lucho, for taking me to see the monarchs, even though they had already departed.
* a drive home without traffic (small pleasures, i know)
* seeing Luscious and Weazie perform their final “Wait Until Dark” at the Altarena on saturday.
* margaritas with Luscious and crew after the play.
* todd & mateo picking me up for a day of frolicking on the beach.
* spending some sam-time on the beach.
* collecting a few beautiful rocks.
* sharing my fried chicken sandwich with everyone (i am grateful for bakesale betty)
* seeing lucho, jeffrey and shama (<3), hunny and joe
* seeing luscious and dave (so happy to see them!)
* spending time with tracy and frank
* spending time with todd this weekend & feeling really thankful for where we are right now
* having a tear-inducing, stomach-wrenching giggle-fit for at least 3 miles on highway 9
* tracy’s incredibly touching email last night
* movies & kittens & snuggles with todd yesterday
* having a good talk with my boss today, after leaving work feeling unsupported on friday.

a lot to be grateful for & that feels nice.

your embodiment of dichotemies compells me:

extroverted yet introverted, because you know your limits.
young yet wise, because you are perceptive.
vulnerable yet strong, because you acknowledge your fears.
clumsy yet graceful, because you’re not afraid to fall.

there is something ancient and magical about your total embrace of the journey:
you make me smile for the legacy you are leaving behind.

belen, friendship

wow, girl. i mean: wow.
i think of you in my life & i feel proud.

you have taught me so much about communication and,
more importantly, about my own communication.
we are two such different people, yet you have consistently met me half-way.
through you, i have been able to discover some of my own fundamental stumbling blocks.

i am inspired by your dedication to reaching your goals.
i love the sparkle in your eyes when you talk about helping children in hospitals.

i am amazed by your photography. through some of your photos
i’ve come to see new aspects of people and moments in time.

when i think of you in my world, i am most grateful for your commitment to balance.

andrea, friendship