The 2nd Thanksgiving

Dear La Suprema,
I love you. And I miss you so much. I don't know how to do this without you. I was listening to a book on tape today "The Art of Racing in the Rain". It's about a guy and his dog. The whole story is told from the perspective of the dog, Enzo. It's a good story. And it seems so familiar. The narrative style, the intimacy and play between the dog and his owner. Enzo is old. He's at the end of his life. In the story, Enzo has an accident, and his owner hoists him up into the tub and cleans him up. Cradling him gently. "I wanted him to see the obvious, that it is OK to let me go...He needs me to free him, to be brilliant. He is so brilliant. He shines. I will miss him, and he will miss me, but I can't let sentimentality cloud my plan." He plans on coming back in his next life as a man, and finding his owner, to shake his hand and congratulate him. He has so much faith and love for this person. And it reminds me so much of you, it hurts. It also makes me think of this whole thing in a different way. Maybe, none of this was meant to hurt? Maybe the subtlety and nuances of human communication and understanding, have clouded the message that I am supposed to embrace. Perhaps this dog has it right? Maybe you had to go, to free me. Because you loved me so much. I would never have left you. I would have spent the rest of my life loving you and taking care of you. God I miss you so much. Mac and I have been having some stupid fights. He asked me how I was feeling about Thanksgiving, and if I wanted to talk about it. Usually, I don't. I don't want to talk about it. But I did this time. Compared to last year and the first Thanksgiving without you, this year was better. This year, everything felt like a let down. Pleasant but numb. Last year was a combination of terrible and beautiful. So I guess numb is an upgrade? But I wanted good. I miss family. I miss making you happy and seeing you smile. I miss hugs. I miss having someone who loves me so much, they just light up every time I see them. God I love you. Wherever you are. I love you.
Vanessa

Just Be Yourself

Here's a tip: 

In reality...real people fuck up. 

All. 

The. 

Time. 

And we all know this. Just from our own experiences living life, we know this. So why are we so worried about it? Why get so freaked out when we drop the ball? Or look a little awkward? Or attempt something and fail? Why try to deny the truth, that sometimes we're wrong and make mistakes? Doesn't it seem better to be a little more open and honest with who you are and what you think? Maybe make the daring risk to be wholly yourself, and hope that maybe, just maybe people will like you for who you really are? And that's not to say that people don't employ this kind of mentality in their personal lives. I think many do. But there seems to be a distinct disconnect and compartmentalization of who we are when we enter the work arena, or the dating arena, and church, and who we are when we're more comfortable and either alone or with our best friends. When the stakes are high and the political climate is uncertain, most people pull back and damp down their inner glow and just try to blend in. -Be like everyone else. And I think this is a mistake. I think first and foremost, we should be striving to think for ourselves. Know who we really are and what we personally think and feel. And then to share that wisdom and inner truth with the world. Just let your light shine! 

In my most recent romantic relationship, one of the things that I love most is getting to know my boyfriend better. I had described my feelings relating to this to a friend of mine. It was early on in the relationship, and we had just reached a hallmark moment. I was on my period, and my boyfriend had offered to go to the store to pick up tampons and ice-cream for me. “He had me at tampons and ice-cream” I told my friend. It was so true. Now bear in mind, I was the kind of girl who used to have to go to the store for maxipads and tampons and feel compelled to buy “something else” just to cover up the fact that I was really just there for period supplies because world, yes...I was on my period and was gushing torrents. It was so embarrassing to me that I would try to cover up the big package of Always with *wings*, with a few carrots. I would put the carrots right on top like teen-girl-period-camouflage. 

“You do not see these tampons and maxipads. These aren't the droids you're looking for.” 

Needless to say, my tampon mind  tricks fooled no one. But I guess it made me feel better at the time and a little less embarrassed. When The Cute Boy offered to “man up” and get my “lady supplies” for me, he instantly won about a million kajillion love-points with me. It was a very simple yet loving gesture on his behalf. I went onto described it to my friend like this: “I loved how it was not a big deal to him...and there are so many moments of connection and intimacy. Open conversation. And that beautiful thing...where we explore the world and ideas together through conversation. To share a part of yourself with another human being. To be. To simply strive to be and to keep being -open. A sincere honesty of the soul. Kind of like 'Here we are...two beings in the universe and this is who I am.'” I went onto say that “ I am being so open and honest with MacArthur in large part because I know how honesty is the key to being known. It's prime for connection. Intimacy. True acceptance. Real love. In order to let someone into your heart you have to be honest with them about who you are. What your faults are. What your dreams and goals are. What you're struggling with. And where you are headed in life. I also have learned that it's simply worth it to make that risk...I've come away from the experience firmly knowing in my heart how important honesty is in a friendship and primary relationship. In so many ways...It's also simply good to be authentic because then I have *the chance* to even be loved. To be seen for who I am. And loved for the unique creature that is me. -There's grace in that. True grace in that feeling...of being known and loved.” Sorry if this is repetitive. But for me, I just kept coming back to the same points and it was like a revelation for me. It felt good. I was in an exciting place in my life, filled with soul baring honesty, and with that came a certain amount of vulnerability. I was trusting those around me to be good to me. I was showing my boyfriend my soft underbelly and trusting that he would be gentle and kind. And he was. And he is. And I count myself lucky to be known and loved the way that I am. It feels so good, that it's leaking over into other parts of my life.