Thanksgiving

Life has been a bit crazy, so it has been quite a while since I have posted anything here. Today I just wanted to blog about those things I am thankful for - so, if you'll indulge me:

• I am thankful for my parents. They provided me with a strong foundation and allowed me the freedom to become the woman I am today;
• I am thankful for my sisters (two older and two younger -- yes, I am the well-adjusted middle child -- and a special cousin who feels like a sister), we might not always see eye-to-eye, but they are a source of strength and, no matter what, we are always there for each other;
• I am thankful for my sister/brother friends (they know who they are), and although we don't see or speak to one another every day, my heart knows you are here with me;
• I am thankful for all of the people who have walked through my life, the ones who are still here and the ones who have moved on;
  
• I am thankful for the fine young man my son has become, and the beautiful grandchildren he has given me. He has been struggling lately with a very difficult break-up and custody dispute, but I believe he will come out of this a stronger person. Here is hoping that the Courts do the right thing and award him custody of his child;
• I am thankful for my health. I had a scare recently, but, luckily, I pay attention to my body and didn't wait, so I am now cancer free;
• I am thankful for my career and my co-workers. I've spent 26 years at the same place of employment and have been lucky enough through the years to have moved from one interesting job to another. My position now - the one I will retire from - gives me a great sense of fulfillment and it doesn't hurt that I work with the coolest people on the planet. They make it very easy to climb out of bed and go to work every morning; and last but not least...
• I am thankful for my life... the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly! Everything that has happened to me, every good or bad choice that I have made, every wonderful or horrible person I have let into my life, brought me right here, to this place... and I am happy. I am proud of the person I have become, and my life is joyful, with no regrets! 54 years of wonderful memories and looking forward to 50 more years to make even more!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Am I blogging again?

A lot has happened since the last time I was here... not anything I can really talk about, but rest assured... lots of D-R-A-M-A going on around me. Hopefully, things will work out well when it is all over and done with.

On a lighter note, I just finished reading the novel Jane by April Lindner, which is due to be published in October 2010. (Another one of the advance reading books I got when I went with my wonderful cousin, The Optimistic Pessimist, to the ALA Conference). Jane is a modern retelling of Jane Eyre... I know, I know, I was thinking the same thing, but I was pleasantly surprised while reading it. Ms. Lindner has done a lovely job with the story, and I almost forgot about Jane Eyre while reading it.

In Ms. Lindner's retelling, Jane Moore ends up having to withdraw from Sarah Lawrence College after her parents are killed in an accident, leaving her without the resources to continue to pay her tuition. Jane doesn't have a healthy relationship with either her sister or her brother, so she can't turn to them. She submits her resume with Discriminating Nannies, Inc. and accepts their offer to be the Nanny for a famous rock star's daughter. She moves into his estate, Thornfield Park, and the love story begins.

I would definitely recommend this book to younger readers, and to anyone who has read and loves Jane Eyre. I think you will enjoy this book too.

My First Blog

Here I am, totally new to this whole blogging thing, not knowing exactly what I'm going to blog about... but, feeling oh so left out. I love music, reading, art, my family and friends, and I am very passionate about politics, so any of these might be a good start.

How about reading? My wonderful cousin (the Optimistic Pessimist) took me to the American Library Association (ALA) Conference held in DC this past July. I had a fabulous time, and I received a stash of books -- most of which were advance, uncorrected galleys (which is kind of exciting to think I get to read books not many people have access to). I already have a ton of books that I have bought over the past couple of years but haven't read yet... so, adding these to my list has pushed me over the edge and I started reading again.

The first book I picked up was Ruta Sepety's between shades of gray, which will be published in March 2011 by Philomel Books (a division of Penquin Young Readers Group). I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and, although the subject matter was dark, Ms. Sepety's story is really one of strength, perseverance, and hope. The novel begins in 1941, and is told through the eyes of 15 year old Lina, who, along with her mother and younger brother are forced from their home in Lithuania, and sent to work camps in Siberia. Their struggles during the forced march and while in the work camps are heartbreaking.

Man's inhumanity to man never ceases to amaze me, and although Stalin's deportations from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia occurred in the 1940s, I can't help thinking of all of the beautiful human beings around the world today who suffer because of hatred based on religion, race, and class.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially to open the dialog with American youth on why it is so important to cherish our diversity.