things i am thankful for

1. books. people underestimate the power, thought and education that comes with frequent and studied reading. i'm serious, people take it completely for granted.  i feel in a way reading has almost become obsolete because everyone these days claims to read, but when i say "reading" i mean not only taking in words on a page but actually gaining something from it. anyone can look on a page and read words, but i feel that there are very few in my generation who can actually gain thought and knowledge from a book and think for themselves.  this all basically comes down to thinking.  One can sit down and read East of Eden and understand the great and wonderful story about the Trask family easily but it is the deeper concepts of this book that are so easily looked past. i have yet to meet a person and i doubt i ever will who relates to this book the same way i do and loves it as much as i do, not only because each person is different but also i think that the profound effect that this book has had on me and the deep love i have for it is almost completely unrelatable. i am protective of it. but back to my point, reading has become frivolous.  today, more people read just to say "oh yeah i read", you sound like an idiot if you don't but i think a lot of people have forgotten the main purpose of reading: to expand your mind and to educate yourself to think independently, and to put yourself in other peoples shoes. but today, i come across too many who seem to read to just impress themselves or others and are completely wasting its purpose.  thats sounds harsh, but those are my thoughts.  

2. that i have 3 lovely amazing girls in my life who think for themselves.  i am convinced i am blessed to be called friend by the 3 most intelligent, kind, sexy, thinking, hilarious women on the planet. all 3 are such thoughtful and strong women, they think not only of others but are aware of themselves, they are strong in their personalities and confident in who they are, they do not let others push or bring them down.  they are thinkers who stick to their guns, who support one another and myself and who love, support and help so unconditionally that i question their corporeal existence. even at such a distance we are all so connected that it hurts to be far from it but i am thankful that i still have this at such a distance.  i miss them more and more everyday.  they are completely irreplaceable to me and i know no others like them.  

3. riding my bike.  nothing makes you aware of your (shitty) lung capacity like riding a bike.  but it is so wonderful. i love riding at night when all is mostly dark and i see the shadows of the trees and hear all the bugs and peepers. i listen to my music and watch all the lightening bugs light up with each beat and note and the air is nice and cool.  its a great time to be alone. 

4. that my kitchen garden is growing so beautifully. i have more sage, basil, thyme and lemon verbena than i currently know what to do with. its spectacular and it smells amazing.  i plan on making soap or lotion with all the lemon verbena i have. our house will smell so wonderful i hope :) with all that sage, we'll probably be eating quite a bit of cajun food

5. where i work. as busy as it can get, i am finally working a summer job that i actually love. i love the restaurant i work in, its locally owned and locally supported, it has amazing food and everyone i work with is just great. we all call each other sweetie, honey and doll and everyone just helps out everyone else. i just love it. its seriously like working at Cheers. its fantastic. and did i mention that the bar is just wonderful/cute as hell? 

6. my house for next year, with my amazing girls and awesome kitchen and porches and the dinner parties and movie nights and girls days and just plain wonderfulness that will be had for all. i am so excited. 

starting wednesday i am going on a 10 day vacay with my fam, where i will kayak, bike, tan, swim, read, play and record music, paint, sleep, play cards, drink good beer and go to this awesome bookstore all the livelong day. i look forward to it vair much. 

until then, have great days and wonderful nights. be excellent to each other.

-g