Ten Things of Thankful: A Decade is One-Tenth of a Century

 

A red blossom on a peony my cousin sent me from my grandma's garden

I have always been fascinated with the concept of time. I distinctly remember turning 10 years old, and realizing that that was it for single digits for me, and recognizing that it would be a very long time before I hit triple digits. Obviously, I was a bit of a strange child, or at the very least, an old soul. 

Although I've been rocking the double-digits for multiple decades now, the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop is just now approaching that milestone. I do hope that you will join with us June 9-11 to celebrate! 

Not only have I been thinking about the number 10 this past week, I've been thinking about the number 100, because that is how old my grandma would have turned this week, had she still been alive. A little over 10 years ago, I wrote a bit about her in this blog post. She had so much tragedy in her life, but that did not define her. She was quick to laugh and had a heart of gold. She opened her home willingly to family members (and somewhat unwillingly to random strangers that Grandpa would bring home) and provided food and shelter, sometimes for extended periods of time. She loved deeply.  I've thought about her quite a bit over the past few years, especially, as I found my life mirroring hers in some respects (thankfully, not in the tragic ways).

With that background into my thought processes this week, let me jump into my ten:

1. I'm thankful for time. It still fascinates me, but I'm no Einstein, so my ability to explain my awe goes about as far as "Wow!" It simultaneously goes quickly and slowly, and people's experiences through the years are both familiar and foreign. Wow!

2. I'm thankful for the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop. Lizzi really came up with something magical and did a fantastic job of building community. Wow! (again)

3. I'm thankful for my grandparents. I was lucky to have known each one of them. 

4. I'm thankful for my parents, and for the memories they share of their grandparents. None of my great-grandparents were alive by the time I was born, so what I know of them, I've learned from my parents (and family history research, but personal stories make them come alive to me).

5. I'm thankful for my children. My oldest son came into town this week, and it was great to see him, as well as my children who live nearby. To add to the "time" theme, how in the world can my children be as old as they are? I only have one who isn't yet in her 30's!

6. I'm thankful for my grandchildren. They get to come visit soon, and I'm definitely looking forward to that! Phone calls are nice, but it's hard to hug through the phone!

7. I'm thankful for extended family: in-laws, significant others, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. 

8. I'm thankful for family reunions planned for this summer. 

9. I'm thankful for non-human family members. Drexel is also 10 (though he'll be turning 11 this year!) Time definitely passes too quickly for dogs!

10. I'm thankful for John. One of our first dates was bowling. John bowled 144. I bowled 141. There are about 2 weeks each year where our ages are only 3 years apart (rather than 4), so we have decided that we'll live until our bowling score. Don't tell me otherwise. 😉 

However you count it, there are always things to be thankful for! Come join the party! If not now, then in June when the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop turns 10!