Category Archives: Friends

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Good-bye my friend

Another amazing woman is no longer with us. Dinah Jordan has got to be one of the most incredible women I’ve ever known.  From Carson City to Douglas County and the rurals of Nevada, her passion for liberal ideals, her seemingly endless energy, her commitment to so many organizations and campaigns, her fire, her feminism, and her wit were simply boundless. The picture at the right was taken last summer on August 26th – Women’s Equality Day (celebrating the 90th anniversary the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution). August 26th was also Dinah’s birthday and she always tried to find a Women’s Equality Day celebration to attend. Last year she was the driving force in having an event in northern Nevada.

I had only an inkling that she was ill as her last email message to me made me think she’d just gotten a bad bug and needed some time to mend. Being the private person she was, she held back news of her illness until the prognosis was clear. If you wish to honor her memory, and I speak only for myself, perhaps a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to help fund research would be in order.  Or perhaps, a donation to N.O.W. She was the co-coordinator (and treasurer) of our Northern Nevada Chapter.

I’m (we’re) all going to miss her very much. What a force she was.

Dinah and me at our NOW booth at 2010 Reno Gay Pride.

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A day late – thoughts on thankfulness

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

A few treasures I’m conscious of:

My family. They know me better than anyone and love me anyway. (Okay, that may not apply to the close relative who unfriended me on Facebook, but I’m going to keep telling myself he loves me too, until I hear otherwise.)

Friends. That whole loving me in-spite-of-me thing you all do? Grateful, grateful, grateful.

The critters. For bringing rhythm and love to our lives. I had to stop writing this post to bring in the herd of dogs for their morning Milk Bones and to play fetch. Now two of them are at my feet asleep and Maya, one of our torties, is crapped out face-down on the towel-draped printer.

My job.

Roof over my head.

Food in the cupboard.

Electricity.

Curbside trash pickup.

My computer.

French roast coffee. And pumpkin spice lattes. And chocolate.

People who think up recipes. I have neither the patience nor the inclination to concoct recipes, but for those few times when I want to make something unusual and delicious, I’ve can turn to those of you who have and are willing to share your knowledge and expertise. Thank you, anonymous internet recipe poster, for the stuffed butternut squash recipe. It was a hit yesterday.

Microplush. Whether a throw or a robe, I love this stuff. And so do the critters.

Comfortable new shoes. It dawned on me one day that bandaids are no longer required accessories for the first couple of weeks wearing  a new pair of shoes. Or maybe I’ve just figured out how to buy them. Either way, I’m thankful.

Writers.

Blogs. Books. Bookstores.

The Internet. For being the instrument by which I found the Love Of My Life.  For bringing me my son-in-law. For opening the world to me and bringing me friends I could never have dreamed of having.

DVRs.

Podcasts.

Science.

Medicine. People whose curiosity, discoveries, dedication, and skill means that I am still alive and walking around with a miniature computer in my chest that keeps my repaired heart functioning smoothly. It’s pretty nice to be alive, first of all, and, secondly, not have to stop to catch my breath every 100 paces. 

My readers. For some reason, you keep coming back. You honor me.