The Thanksgiving Shout Outs

Aahh yeah - Thanksgiving. Football, grubfest, power naps.... uh, I mean... the time of the year to give thanks for what life has brought you. I'd say it's been a good 4 years since I've done the latter, but it's definitely time...Time to reflect on what's gotten me to this thirtysomething point in my life and the incredible people who've touched my life along the way. So with that being said:

I'd like to give thanks to:

• Julia Rae for her infectious giggle and Hannah Nicole for the world's best super-hugs
• Adam & Jill who've open their home to me whenever I didn't want to be alone and to their amazing children Courtney & Anthony for always making me smile no matter how awful I might have been feeling
• to the countless members of my little league team because they gave me a reason to get out of the house when I'd otherwise wallow alone in my own misery.
• my sister Arlene, who keeps me calm when the chaos of the day gets on my last nerve and my brother-in-law John for giving me a oppurtunity to do what I'm best at.
• Steve & Carrie who are always willing to listen, even after those times when I know they wish they hadn't.
• my Mom for understanding the buffer zone without being overbearing.
• my Dad for letting me feel his presence even though he's no longer here.
• Heather for the much needed: "Dude, you need to chill..."
• my main man Eric who onced thanked me for how helpful sharing my experience was to him. It was the first time I thought I might actually be learning from all of this.
• my cutie Katie, who was the ray of sunshine in my once cloudy reality
• Mary Beth for understanding I'll always love her no matter what the hell happens
• Jay Grizz for giving me the blunt brotherly advice whether I wanted to hear it or not.
• Appleby for being the one guy who can make me laugh when I'd least expect to and for continually being such a great friend, even though I wasn't always one in return.
• my extraordinary Aunt Mary, whose unconditional love for her family has given me a re-energized pride in my Portuguese heritage.
• Dino & Meliss for providing me with a stress-free, uncomplicated enviroment complete with long talks and camping trips during the Atlanta Experiment.
• my aunt and uncle Gail & Tony, for exposing me to great music and creative writing during my childhood. Both of which gave me something to occupy my mind when I needed to stop thinkin' so damn much.
• the beautiful Dianne - who's my angel - the calm in my self-induced storm. Without her I wouldn't be who I am today
• Big Joe, for not only tolerating me bending his wife's ear for hours at a clip, but making me laugh so hard it hurt on more than one occasion
• my bad-ass cousin Rich, who provides my weekly adrenaline rush when he's on the racetrack and always makes me feel like I contribute to the team - when I'm really just along for the ride.
• the ball bustin' Andy who makes me want to be funny whenever we hang out and to his beautiful wife Lori who reminds me that it eventually can get better down the road.
• Gina for reaching out despite the risk
• my amazing sister Rachel for caring more than I ever expected after all this time and the wonderful way it's made me feel ever since
• the wonderful Melissa for once telling me "it'll get worse before it gets better" which gave me the optimism I needed during my most dreadful times
• Kate for asking how I felt instead of suggesting what I should do
• Rich & Nancy for being the coolest cats in the neighborhood, always there if I needed something
• Stephanie for taking the time to share her experience with me and listen to mine in return - it gave me my first steps towards understanding things better
• and yes, after all this, I'm genuinely thankful for Michelle, who brought out the best in me - and then the worst - Both of which ultimately gave me a broader perspective, overwhelming humility, unconditional forgiveness and finally a deeper understanding of not only myself, but of her as well...

because whether you understand it or not,

that was what I needed to learn in the first place.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!!