Day One--The Top of My List

January 1, 2013 has arrived, and the Year of Gratitude is officially underway.  No starter pistol fired to mark the start, no flags waved, no gates opened to set the horses running.  But the day dawned quiet and happy, and I felt glad.  I really have been anticipating this day, this resolution to live the year in gratitude.

I wasn't anxious.  I wasn't worried about how to commence.  There was never a question in my mind where to begin.  I phoned my mother-in-law, Jean Woerner.  

Since marrying her son, Drew, in September 1988, I have had the great good fortune to have a wonderful mother-in-law.  Sadly, we have spent the years on opposite ends of the U.S.  Her Pennsylvania boy married a California girl, and I know the miles and time apart have prevented us from having the really close, loving relationship we should have had.  I know she would have loved to have been a hands-on grandma, a babysitter at a moment's notice.  There could have been so many holidays and Saturday picnics and Friday night dinners.  She never not ever not even once in all these years nagged or complained.  She has loved, trusted, worried, prayed.  

So when Year of Gratitude dawned, Jean Woerner was at the top of my list.   I called to say I love you.  I called to tell her thank you.