Thankful
Nov
25
2010

These tiny people are my heart. Sometimes I rush through the week, intent on making sure the basics are done – everyone gets to all the places they need to be at any given time, lunches made, homework done, supplies refilled, breakfasts made to get ready for school, all that stuff. And then something like a freak snowstorm hits and all the other stuff I need to do screeches to a halt and I can just look at them and realize how truly fortunate I am in these creatures who drive me to the limits of my sanity and ten seconds later my heart fills with so much love for them I can barely stand it.

I am thankful for my husband, who has been my co-pilot on this journey. I met him when we were 18 years old. Total babies we were, but so in love! Twenty-four years later and despite the gray and my crappy knees that he makes me take glucosamine for (along with a zillion other vitamins every day, he’s my health pusher). I am thankful he has a good heart, a strong body and mind (I say, “you know I think shelves would be good there” and he puts them up. Okay sometimes I have to mention it a few times and maybe a few times more, but he does it because it makes me happy. How fabulous is that?) We’ve had our ups and we’ve had our downs and he has been steadfast in his commitment to me and our family. So it’s not hard for me to write alpha males in my novels because I have one and he’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

I am thankful for my parents. Dave and Linda you have and you continue to love me and support me and cheerlead my dreams. You have never put a limit on what I dreamed I could do and be. You have been a constant in my life. Whenever and wherever I have needed you, you were there. You probably can’t know how much that means to me. But I feel it just the same. You’d say, “well that’s what parents do, honey.” And you’d be right. But many don’t and that I’m 42 years old and you’re still there when I need you means I have the best role models ever.

I am thankful for my friends. Man oh man, when I have a complete and total panic attack about whether or not I made a huge, horrible mistake in going mass market at long last, you are there to talk me down. You keep me from posting terrible, career killing blog screeds about things and people who really make me mad! You cheer for my successes. You give me advice and stern talkings to. I am richer for each of you.

Without Fatin, my wonderful assistant and lovely friend, I don’t know how I’d get everything done. Nothing seems to fluster the woman. She is able, capable and on top of all that, she’s good and giving and lovely and wonderful. Fatin’s friendship makes every day better. Without Mary, friend, beta reader and board moderator, I’d be lost! This awesome lady has fit in a read of one of my books with pretty much no notice AND she has a busy life on top of it. Without Renee, who has been my friend and reader before I became Lauren Dane, author – well I can’t imagine because she’s been with me every step of the way. Renee has read every single one of my books. Has critted them, has helped me set up for reader parties, has stuffed bags and handed things out. Has pimped my books in her local bookstore and all over the internet. And she does it for more than just me. Renee Meyer is an awesome, fabulous woman and I love her to bits.

On this note – a big, giant, grateful hug to Megan Hart (though I promise not to touch your face). There has never been a moment since we met that she hasn’t been good to me. She is the sister of my heart and I adore her. It is impossible for me to quantify all she’s brought to my life. I admire her skills as a writer – when I gush about her, it’s all totally true. She’s a kick ass mom and an all around fabulous person who will absolutely tell me if I have spinach in my teeth. This week I saw some pile up on the internet where one author was gleefully piling on in an attack on the appearance of another author (this in a review) and I said to Megan, “doesn’t this woman have any friends?” because I know if I went off the rails like that, Megan would slap me around. Or Ann Aguirre, who has and would ! Anya Bast would, though she’d do it in her own way, full of kindness and humor. There are few people in the world who are kinder and more compassionate than Anya (and a wonderful author too) or Laura Bradford would, seriously thank goodness for her! More than my agent, she is my friend and someone I trust more than I can say. Or heck, any number of people who mean so very much to me (and if I didn’t name you, I apologize, there are many, many wonderful friends in my life and you know who you are -xoxox)

My point is – those who love us help shape who we are. I am more blessed than I have a right to be in the people who live in my universe. Thank you each and every one of you and Happy Thanksgiving.

6 comments to “Thankful”

  1. Taige Crenshaw
    November 25th, 2010 at 11:14 am · Link

    Very moving. There is so much to be thankful for in this world. I am thankful for you for being you. A warm and wonderful person.

    Thankful for my family and friends who have been there.

    And just thankful to be here and alive.

    Happy Thanksgiving!!!



  2. Stacie
    November 25th, 2010 at 3:16 pm · Link

    Okay, I got a little teary reading that.

    I’m thankful I was able to spend Thanksgiving with my husband who has been away (off & on) for the better part of the last year. He completely took over running the house this week. He did the chores, planned, setup and cleared Thanksgiving dinner so that I could recover from a recent illness. I know I would have turned into She-Hulk if I had had to do everything myself!

    Happy Thanksgiving everybody!



  3. Diane Sadler
    November 25th, 2010 at 5:48 pm · Link

    Be Happy and Thankful, I am.

    Happy Thanksgiving!



  4. Mad
    November 25th, 2010 at 8:05 pm · Link

    You sure know how to make a lady get all teary-eyed…right back atcha, my friend…hugs!!



  5. Collette
    November 26th, 2010 at 2:56 pm · Link

    This is lovely. You do have a way with words, my dear. 😉

    I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful.



  6. Fabienne
    November 26th, 2010 at 5:46 pm · Link

    This was beautiful. 🙂 *tear*