Thanksgiving '13

Twenty-thirteen is ending. How do I feel? It's 30°F outside and I'm in my room on a cold Saturday afternoon listening to Midlake. They came back with a new album last month and I saw them play at Mercury Lounge. Have been revisiting their "The Trials of Van Occupanther" album. A lot of great records came out around that time.

What I am thankful of.

1. For the golden memories in Taiwan. I got to spend Chinese New Year overseas with my family in Taichung and Taipei. I haven't been back since I was really young so the whole visit was surreal. My grandfather passed away almost 15 years ago but his home office is untouched. I took some of his business cards and dug into his drawers for 40-year old picture albums. I found a lot of photo gems that no-one in the family has seen in decades. I also took a box of clothes that my mom left in the closet before she married my dad. My favorite is a light-blue 70's dress with a white lacy collar and a pin in the shape of a ship's wheel. I visited my maternal grandparents and cried hysterically when I saw them. It was an emotional vacation.

2. Meeting Dennis and Cindy Sze. They are a married couple who both share a passion in creativity and helping others. Helping Dennis out with his company coincidentally united me with a long lost friend! I used to play with Eunice when she visited her aunt, who was a tenant in our house. It's been about 18 years and our friendship hasn't changed.

3. Weill Cornell/ Presbyterian Hospital, now a major part of my life.

4. For Todd Rundgren's "Something/Anything" album that never fails whenever I am a wreck.

5. Friends and family for their constant love and support during troubling times. For the well-wishes, the care-packages, visits,  letters, and texts between hospital visits and chemotherapy. Laughter is truly the best medicine even when it hurts to crack up.

6. The "If We Were Dads" Film Club that I host with Marilla. We just celebrated our one-year anniversary this month! I'm always looking forward to a relaxing night in with friends who also share a love for movies.

7. Sarah! I randomly met her at a Crohn's and Colitis charity event and then my Summer of Sarah began. She was in New York on a grant working towards her PhD in geography. It's ridiculous how we have so much in common, specifically our love for Kate Bush and My Brightest Diamond!

8. Belle visiting me from Amsterdam/ Guillaume and Raed visiting from Montreal.

9. My favorite moment of the year- Enjoying "Beast of the Southern Wild" in Prospect Park with a live orchestra. I was already nostalgic before the night even began because of the company I was with. They all returned home shortly after (Switzerland, Italy, Montreal and Ottawa) but I'm glad to have spent that evening with magical people.

10. Quiet music venues.

11. For our mayor-elect, Bill deBlasio. Peace, Bloomberg.

12. Country getaways to retreat and appreciate nature.

13. HEALTH INSURANCE  for which I've always taken granted! This is the most massive I've dealt with hospital bills. Would have costed an arm, a leg, and a boob.