The music is wonderful and the lyrics even better.  My choice of favorite song rotates every time I listen but I probably am most stirred by On the Rise.   And I just LOVE Felicia Day! Her commentary/singfest is hysterically funny. I will never look at 9-inch heels the same way again!

Recently I took up cross country skiing.  I heard its “good exercise.”  Ruben bought me a great pair of skis for Christmas, and I’ve been out and skiing ever since.  (We have a place close by our house that’s called Chimney Park, where folks cross country ski.)  It’s hard.  There’s no speed, and you need to find your rhythm to keep going.  But, once one figures out the motion, it’s fairly easy to move along.  And I like the repetition of the action, it’s almost zen-like.

Accidentally, this last Saturday I was out at Chimney Park later than I expected and ended up skiing in the moonlight.  I was in awe of the perspective and the shadows the trees cast on the snow.  It was quiet and eerie, with the only sounds being my skis sliding against the snow and my breathe matching the rhythm of my movements.   I thought clearly.

I’ve had some wonderful experiences in my life.  This was definitely one of the best!  Next time, I’m planning this and dragging Ruben along.  That was the only thing missing!

I love my busy days though.  I love the fact that I drop at night.  I feel I haven’t wasted a single second of my precious day.   I feel I  accomplished something.  I feel strong.  But most importantly, I feel.  There have been way too many people in my life who simply don’t feel anything, and life is just one day that blurs into the next.  I do not judge these people because I have not lived their lives, but I am conscious how easy it can be to become so feelingless.   I’ve been there.

As I sit writing this, my children are peacefully sleeping.  Ruben is still sleeping too.  The house is quiet except for the brewing of my coffee.  It smells good too.  I’m avoiding the urge to crawl in bed with one of the kids and just hug and kiss them up.  I do that often in the morning, mostly on a weekend.  But I really don’t want to wake them up quite yet.  This day will be busy and exciting for them.

There’s the usual.  Turkey, dressing, leek mashed potatoes, and pies.  Of course pies. Then there’s the football games.  Ruben and I will banter and torture each other throughout the annual Thanksgiving Texas A&M and Texas game.  We’ll watch, cook, play, and watch some more.  When one of the teams finally loses, we will torture the other even more.  It’s all in fun.  But it’s tradition.  The kids will play with the wii, enjoy chowing down the food and goodies, and watch movies and junk on TV.  Not much will happen other than nothingness, something we really need to fill a day with!

I would be remiss to not say how thankful I am that I have the opportunity and means to have such a Thanksgiving.  I am acutely aware how blessed I am all the time. I look at my family, and sometimes I literally need to pinch myself because, honestly, I never thought I would have any of this.

Not me.