This has been a better week than most. Maybe because I had a long weekend away that was not only made my work week shorter but allowed me to step away from the WIFI and cell phone. And there are at least 10 other things that I am thankful for this week:

1. Laughing at a picnic table, in 40-degree weather, declaring that guys don’t want to f*ck skunks (if you know you know) among other discussion absurdities at almost 1am. And not apologizing to our other camper friends for keeping them up with our giggles. Instead saying; you should have joined us if you were awake 🙂
2. Enjoying a bottle of wine (each) in a friend’s camper as we remembered friends lost too soon and deciding that if we were just left in charge of the world, life would be perfect.
3. That last night after having to leave a retirement party 4.2 minutes after I got there because Bridget was triggered by some unknown something, today I spent almost 3 hours at a Dunkin’ with her as I caught up with another non-typical mom. We laughed; we cried and created a stronger bond with an ally in this unexpected and unasked for life.
4. That I have a boss that not only encouraged me to take the extra-long weekend, even though I’ve had so many days off this year because in his words: Those were for medical appointments, this is for you.
5. That a friend called me out for “losing hope” and reminded me that I am not losing hope but reimaging Bridget’s future.
6. That I spent 2 hours talking on the phone with my PACS1 friend from Australia. What was supposed to be a quick chat turned into a really informative conversation and an agreement that we cannot let another year go by without another one.
7. That when I text a friend that I haven’t corresponded with in ages asking if she was up for a bit of “snark”, she not only said “hell yes” but then texted me throughout the night as we caught up on one another’s lives.
8. That #6 & #7 reminded me that I have not done a great job of keeping informed about what has been going on in my friends lives. That this reminded me that I cannot self-isolate but be there for others. And more importantly, that even though times goes by too quickly that does not mean too much time has gone by to reach out to what could be a lost friendship, and instead recenter myself on why these connections are not just a band aid but a vital part of my life.
9. That Bridget’s latest medication regimen seems to be working. She is having more laughter and less tears in her day. Yes, she is stimming all the time, and we are not back to baseline (yet) but my girls is slowly coming back to me.
10. That while I mourn the loss of summer, I am so enjoying moments like this.

Ignore my attempt at trying to keep basil alive HAHAHAHA