Happy Thanksgiving!

I haven’t written in OD forever! And I was getting so good at making the time to write a couple of entries on weekends. But time got away from me and by the time I sat down, either I didn’t feel like writing anything or I just was too tired to get my fingers to work on the keyboard.

But I’m still here and doing well.

We’ve had a very beautiful autumn here in Minnesota. We had record warmth in October, loads of beautiful color, and even today, Thanksgiving Day, is gorgeous. It’s warm (in the 50s), sunny, with a light wind from the south.

I’m not hosting Thanksgiving this year. Asher and Angie are hosting. At first, I was disappointed about not being able to cook, because what’s better than having the smell of roasting turkey filling the air? But now I’m glad we’re going to be guests and not hosts.

Did I write “we”?

I did and now I’m a “we” instead of a “me”.

Right around Halloween, I got an email from Frank. Remember him? I met him on eHarmony about a year and a half ago. He lived in Iowa, but was working outside of St Louis, MO in Illinois on a power plant project. He’s a boilermaker.

He came to my house twice during that summer, but I decided I couldn’t handle a long distance relationship, because I was devastated whenever Frank left. So, I went back to Joe, and there I stayed until I started talking to Frank again.

Frank and I exchanged a few emails. Then we started talking on the phone. Frank is trying to decide to retire, which means he isn’t going to work as a boilermaker anymore. He wanted to put the time in to get an awesome pension, which he has, plus he has money stashed away, so he’s a position to take his time to make decisions on where he wants his life to go.

Since he’s free, we decided it was a good time for him to move up with me. He came last Saturday and we’ve spent the last week getting used to each other.

It’s been good. He’s learning I’m a neat freak and I’m learning he’s not good at putting his stuff away. But we’re older and we know that kind of stuff doesn’t mean much.

But it’s so good to be with someone I’m comfortable with. We fit so well together. It’s like all the lights are turning on again after being in the dark for so long.

So, of course, I’m very thankful for Frank on this beautiful Thanksgiving Day, but I’m also thankful that I’m lucky enough to have a good job so close to home that allows me to pay my bills and have something extra. I’m thankful for my son and family. I’m so lucky that everyone gets along and everyone lives close to me. I’m lucky that I can see my grandchildren when I want to and they don’t live somewhere across the country.

I’m grateful for the 10 years I had with Ray. I’m so thankful he came into my life, and I’m so thankful he loved me, because he taught me so much about taking risks, have the courage to follow through, and how to be generous and giving to other people.