I had a little visit with my James Bond guru yesterday, the purpose of which was to upload some more photos on to Facebook with his help. I'm starting to get the hang of it, though without a laptop here, I'm not independent yet. I suppose I can use one of the internet cafes, assuming the computers are of recent vintage, but I haven't taken that on yet. Besides, I dig David and he's happy to help. I buy his lunch or his smoothie when we meet as a way to show him my appreciation.
And along those lines.... yesterday he said that since it's the end of the year, he's making a list of 200 things he's grateful for, it's part of his process to keep things balanced and positive. He recommended that I do the same, at least 100 things. He said that doing so will make it possible to look back on the year as a great and positive experience, and then the next year will be even better. I get the feeling that it's part of his method for personal growth, and yeah, I trust this guy as a very bright light, so here at the internet cafe in Chiang Mai, December 31, 11:30am, I'll make a list.
Grateful for in 2012
My family is alive and healthy
I'm alive and healthy
My parents are still alive and coherent, what a gift!
My son is an honest person
I have a safe place to live
Food and the people who provide it
I am very loved in my community (not by everyone, God knows, but a lot of people care for me)
Words and the ability to manipulate them
OK, the Times Crossword, one of my favorite pastimes.
10 I have a great set of friends, many of them quite longstanding.
The great set of genes passed down to my from history
Laughter and a sense of humor
Dance class
Dancing with my friends for years and years
The women I get to dance with every week
The Quackers Blues Jam where I get to dance and play bass with my friends every Wednesday
CU Corner, my musical home away from home where I get to play and be part of the music scene
My Thai friends in Chiang Mai
Library gigs and the chance to 'make a party' on so many occassions
20 Tin Pan Alley songs
Senior gigs where I get to play Tin Pan Alley songs
Singing harmony
Getting to make a living doing what I love
This body that is coordinated, moves well and doesn't hurt
Doctor Jeff G, who hooks me up with a year's worth of samples that keep me breathing well
This brain that processes information so well
Listening and Compassion for others
Riding my bicycle along the Willamette River
Hong Kong Restaurant and the Tang family in Eugene (30 years of friendship)
30 Sex, or as my dad says, 'If God made anything better, he kept it for himself'
Thai massage in Thailand $7/hr
The Eugene Public Library and my place in it.
Saturday Market, the best thing in Eugene
My buddy Mark, patron of the arts (apparently) who has provided me a cheap and great place to live.
Every gig I did this year
Love in all of its forms (hmmm that one's pretty far down the list...I guess I'm pretty shallow)
The Jiffy Market, my coffee, crossword and bantering hangout in Eugene
Eugene, Or, where there are more open minded people per capita than is the norm in America
Meeting new people and making new friends
40 The internet as representative of the amazing times in which we live
Barack Hussein Obama, superstar
My ears which are my most valuable sensory tool
Those piano lessons I took with Wilma 48 years ago. Still grateful for that musical foundation
Teaching music to folks that are interested.
Reading books
Playing the guitar
Writing songs
Playing swing on piano
My voice that can still sing
50 My hands that know what to do
Gonna pause here and then return to the list before the clock strikes 12
