Jeff Dowler is hosting a November 2020 ActiveRain Challenge asking us to share at least 5 or more things we are thankful for. It can be business, personal, anything we want!
The Gift of my Mother. No words can truly describe the gift my mother gave me when she left me in control of managing her care. Prior to taking on that responsibility, I believed that raising a child was the hardest job on earth. Raising my son was a cakewalk compared to managing my mother’s care and caring for my Mother.
It never occurred to me that the day would come when I would be caring for my mother in many of the same ways I cared for my son. I knew the road my mother was on was a road traveling in a different direction. I knew someday it would be the end of the road for her. To honor my mother's wishes, the end of the road for her was at the ocean.
I count my blessings every day that my mother died before COVID. I cannot imagine not being able to be with her and care for her the way I did for nearly 10 years. I miss her so much.
I am grateful for my son. Good heavens, again there are no words to express how much love I have for my son. A child is such a blessing and a miraculous gift. We have shared good times, not so good times, and some ugly times too. We are stronger and closer for all of it.
COVID hit and he did not want to be around me on Mother’s Day because he did not want to risk it. He delivered a care package to my front door. I tear up just writing this. His birthday is in July and we decided since restaurants were allowed outdoor dining that we would meet for breakfast. My birthday several months later and he came to my home and spent the day with me. It was the most normal my life felt since March 2020 when the shutdown happened. No masks or social distancing. We ate, played games, drank Prosecco, and ate cake. It was a glorious day.
This little guy, Mikey. Holy Heavens what a joy he has been for nearly 28 years. He is an old man now living way past life expectancy for a cockatiel. I had a scare with him a few months ago. Of course, with COVID I could not be with him in the Vet’s office. I had to wait in the car and get a phone update after the exam. I am so grateful that the visit was not the end of the road for him.
He can no longer fly (never had his wings clipped) but he remains a happy and healthy bird. He loves spending time in “his” drawer. He plays with the mirror, bites the wood, and gets more physical activity there than he does in his cage.
I am grateful for my home. My home is my safe haven and my sanctuary. What else can be said about that? Perhaps the fact that since COVID I am spending a lot more time at home. And I do not have any issues with that. There isn’t any other place I want to be. The full moon is always something extra special to enjoy.
I am grateful for my friends. I can count on one hand the people I know to be true friends. You know, the people that will do anything for you and be there for you when times are good, and when times are not so good. COVID has certainly limited the time we can spend together. Thankful for the long phone conversations we have that keep us connected and supporting each other.
The person in this photo is someone I met at an ActiveRain meetup. She and I have become good friends. So blessed I am and honored to call her, friend!
I am thankful for the ActiveRain community for all that I have learned and continue to learn, for the online friends I've made, for the networking and referral connections I've made, and for how much I have grown personally and professionally over the last 12.5 years since I became a member.
I am grateful for my truly blessed life. I live a simple life and choose my own way and my own path. I march to the beat of my own drum (heart).
Life is a gift. I choose to live in joy.
Kathleen Daniels is a California Real Estate Broker specializing in probate real estate services in Santa Clara County and surrounding areas.
I felt it as I wrote it and containment was an issue. 
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