Yeah, I said it.

Thanksgiving.

No, the accumulated fatigue of 7 shows in 4 days, 1010 miles in 14 1/2 hours driving and a near miss with an F-1 tornado has not completely addled my senses. Here’s what I’m saying.

I’ve noticed that holidays, for me, tend to be reflective times. I tend to do my version of prayer, which is to simply thank God for the weird, random, challenging & totally exciting ride she has allowed me to partake in these last 62 11/12 years. And yes, I said “she”. Not that I think God has any need for gender. When you think about it, the idea of God having a gender is just another example of us creating God in our own image. But I refer to the Deity as a she because I think her actions, at least regarding me, show a sense of irony and dry humor that I think of as feminine….

…but I digress…

Yeah, my praying is usually just me stopping whatever is rolling through my mind and saying, “BTW, thank you for this. I don’t know how this all ends, but I appreciate all of the fun stuff you let me be a part of.” It’s usually during a run, or on a stage, or in a bar with good music. That kind of stuff.

So, holidays. On Thanksgiving, yes, I do count my blessings. But I also do that on Christmas, Easter, Labor Day, definitely St. Patricks day and yes, today, the 4th of July.

So today I’m giving thanks. For my health, for the ability to do what i enjoy and even make a sheckle or two doing it. I’m thankful for friends who understand me, my dry (DRY!) sense of humor, my long absences and ability to ghost when I actually am around. They are still my friends and I appreciate it, though I don’t know how or why they do it. I appreciate getting to work with amazingly talented people and how hard I have to work to keep up with them ( tho don’t ask me about this when I’m in the middle of a rehearsal period.) I appreciate good food, good wine, Jameson whiskey (mostly in the month of March), bar waitresses with tattoos and smart mouths, Chelsea football club, dogs, cats and children, though I’m fine with not having raised any myself.

So, the wellness-related point today? I won’t say it’s having an “attitude of gratitude”, because that’s trite as hell. But, on this 4th or July, I just think that taking a minute to appreciate, and be thankful, is a fine & wonderful thing.

Is life perfect? Of course not. I haven’t fallen in love with a tall, blonde gymnast whose aging father owns a chain of liquor stores. Among other things.

But I do appreciate it. All of it.

Maybe this is me praying again.

Thanks God. You little minx.

To the rest of you?

Talk Later,

Bob