[Martina]

I have a lot to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. I am at the tail end of a two week road trip, reconnecting with East of the Mississippi friends. It could not have gone better. And still one visit to go - I arrive tomorrow.

All my friends are happy and doing well, which am grateful for. And I reconnected with them like we had just seen each other yesterday - except it was a little more intense because it has been a long time and life has happened to us all. A couple of them I saw two years ago, a couple within the last five years, but two very close friends I hadn't seen for ten years. I am not going to let that happen again. The friend on whose doorstep I arrive tomorrow I saw last month, but before that I think it had been three years. I am not going to do that anymore, meaning let so much time pass without seeing those I love. I am still super sad because this is the first big holiday without my mom. But I feel warmed by the love of friends and a little more grounded in this world again.