Where I Exit Stage West: MUAAH

A big, juicy, grateful smack on the lips (and I even flossed first!) to:


those who reiterated out loud in my son's presence that they'd heard what a great job he was doing with the whole packing thing (Y'all get points in the Healthy Child Development Department.)


anyone who ever loaned me money or -- :::blush::: -- gave it to me outright, both so I could try and stay put and then later so I could escape with my remaining shreds of dignity


and on that note, my sister Annie Pearl, who came to my rescue by agreeing to be my Plan D. Screw the third time. Fourth time's the real charmer.


folks who contributed their no-longer-latest-model luxuries (like microwaves and coffee makers) to my scaled-back lifestyle


the Box Fairies


those hearty souls who came to hear me sing and later even spoke kindly of the experience


my colleagues who have steered work in my direction, again and again


my faraway friends who keep cheering me on in the distance by email and Twitter, no matter how raised up their eyebrows or fallen down their jaws at my life's shenanigans


my garbage men. Who else would do what they do? And come back for more?? I just love them.


the handful of secret-keepers (and y'all know that I ain't talkin bout no book cult there) who are breathing repositories of both the funny (and not "funny ha-ha") and way-not-so-funny atoms of energy that I emit at times


the cardinals who've graced my suburban abode for all these years


the staff of my local bank for always treating me with kindness and respect, no matter my situation


the U.S. Postal Service and, specifically, my local and new carriers who (I predict optimistically) will do a crackerjack job of deftly maneuvering in keeping up with me and mine and our mail


my long-time landlords for giving me even more opportunities to practice independence (and the releasing of resentment) with their policy of "You've Lived There for 3 Years, So We Think Anything That Breaks, Explodes Or Otherwise Ceases Functioning Is Now Considered Normal Wear & Tear and Is Therefore The Renter's Responsibility" (and I'm keeping the charred electrical outlet for posterity)


the one last burner on my stove that continues to work without discharging an electrical arc


my fix-it friends who know how to install new toilets, new faucets, repair gates and patch fences, in exchange for being fed


eggs, for being the Nutritional Standard Bearer of my household


that old friend who suggested that I consider using eggs as a nutritional foundation


peanut butter. My universe.


anyone responsible for creating gasoline and cars


anyone responsible for making coffee and coffee pots


the water company for waiting until mid-day to cut off any chances for another load of laundry


the blazing Houston sun for giving me a morning of full sun to dry the last loads of laundry


central air conditioning. I'll miss you.

 
Kwan Yin (or the Energy of Your Understanding) who came to my mind so many years ago to let me know that what is, is, and that's all there is...