My family , my health , my friends , my home , I am thankful to be me . Kendall
I'm thankful to be able to get up every day, and also for friends and family.
I was outed to my family back in June by another Provider and her friends, and i've lost my family and all that i loved because of it, my 2 grown daughters have turned their back on me and still won't speak to me because of it. I'm not telling all of you this for any sympanthy or pity, but Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful isn't it? We count our Blessings and hope that Life stays good. But to be honest with all of you, I'm just climbing out of that "Pit" now, and i've dusted myself off and I'm looking ahead with hope that one day they will realize that nothing has changed about their Mom, my love my concern my caring for them have never wained and I'm still the same woman I always was, So this Thanksgiving I'm thankful for being the strong person I always knew I was, and finding Hope in this darkness that my Girls will find their way back to me again. Hope is what i'm thankful for this year, and realizing that you must always carry that in your heart.
Jay
So sorry you are having to deal with this. My hope is that next year you and your daughters are spending Thanksgiving together.
MONEY is the religion of the new millennium, and if you strictly focus on your being a provider those who have proven disloyal will be soon kicking themselves as you pay your bills without a care and fill your life with luxuries they can only dream of.
The sucking sound born of their envy will soon give solace to your current (and temporal) sadness.
Jayla....i for one,as well as the rest of us here at TER..are pulling for you!...I'm sure there are several of us here,that will be dining alone on Thanksgiving....To bad we couldn't all get together for Thanksgiving dinner!...Not sure where your from, but i have a seat across the table from me, with nobody's name on it...it your's if you so choose!
I am sorry you had such a difficult year .I myself was outed about 2.5 years ago and although it was awful I am actually thankful for that as well ,not the intention of the outer but a gift eventually to me all the same . I hope the end result eventually turns to a blessing to you as well. Kendall
And I do believe that you will be vindicated in the end. It may take time, and I can well understand that this is painful for you. It's especially hard with children. Even grown children. But, eventually, they learn some things from their own experiences, and they very often come around. Understanding someone, agreeing with someone, and loving them, respecting them, are sometimes two different things.
I was "outed" to the little family I have left by a jealous girlfriend a few years ago. My grandmother, who is 99 now and was 96 at the time, took the attitude that my lifestyle choices were my prerogative. She was and is very supportive. My cousins, Uncle and Aunt just tolerate me, but it simmers. So I can empathize.
Now, I am grateful to be living a totally transparent life. I have nobody to hide anything from. I am just plain me. And I am grateful for that gift, regardless of the initial unpleasantness.
All the best to you in the coming year.
Gregory
I am so sorry Jay that you are going through such an awful time when family should be together. I can't imagine your pain or the loss you feel.I have often wondered what if my family new or my friends found out. Yes, there are many small minds out there to contend with.
You are no longer living a lie and I pray that some peace will come from that. Send out your holiday cards Jay and spread your love with those you miss and care for...I hope the holidays will open your daughters hearts and fill them with love and memories of the years you have shared with them.
Kisses Haley
Jay, kids (even grown kids) can be pretty brutal and tend to think in back and white. Sooner or later they start experiencing life and find out to their surprise that life is full of various gray shades. I know that at this moment it may seem as something that is far removed from your reality ... but your kids WILL realize how wrong they are. Just hope they won't have to go through anything harsh before they learn acceptance and understanding.
In the meantime just keep in mind that living well is ... living well! 
Lina
posts, you have always appeared to be a caring person. I am certain you are "in real life" as well.
For the provider who outed you, I wish her nothing but a bucket of coal.
Lost my Mother, brother, brother in-law, all in 1.5 years. Other family members won't talk to each other since my mother died.( 1 brother, 2 sisters.) I get to have Thanksgiving with my dad only this year. Sometimes family sucks.
The only thing one can do is to live your life and be caring to the people that will comunicate with you! Be thankful that you can enjoy the things that you can because if you look hard enough, other peoples problems usually are worse than your's. I know that is the case with mine.
Happy Holidays.
Congratulations for overcoming your depression!
I am so thankful to be alive and in good health and that I can go for a run this morning. Actually I'm very happy and excited that I have a date in three days that I have really been looking forward to. I'm thankful that at my age I can still get so excited about simply holding hands with a woman.
I am grateful for having the good fortune to live an independent lifestyle as a single woman. I am blessed that I can carve out my own success without having to answer to anyone and that the Goddess above has given me an opportunity to work and earn in such a fun and pleasurable way!
--Sitara Devi
-- Modified on 11/2/2008 11:22:57 AM
that certainly means a lot cumming from you.
I was trying to keep this a "G" rated post!..But since you included The letter G (Greek) in your post...all is good!...Thanks for the pic!..That's what i call.."Stuffin a Turkey"!
Being alive. I had so many friends over the years who are no longer. I'm thankful for their memories.
Being healthy. Mostly. Yep, I've got my problems, but I can live the way I want (within reason).
Being a friend, having a few real friends.
Being a German-American. I call two wonderful countries home, and benefit from two wonderful societies and cultures.
Being able to do useful work - my particular skillset has no application in civilian life. But instead of doing something ill suited to me, I may continue to use my skills in meaningful work.
Being solvent - the markets were not kind. But I'm OK, and I can wait it out.
Being in this lifestyle. I have learned that I am not into commitment or drama. I am able to enjoy fine female companionship without either. Can't beat that.
And listed last but near and dear to my hard old heart - all of the dear ladies who have been so nice to me over the years....
-- Modified on 11/2/2008 6:42:43 PM
members of the armed forces, Mouse (my cat), the people who help make this and similar boards possible, anyone who does their job well...
I'm sure I could keep going on, but you get the message.
There is always a lot to be thankful for. I'm thankful we have a day to show appreciation for it.
I am thankful that I am reasonably healthy and able to continue to care for my family, for those who need my assistance and those who may need my help in the future.
Hugs,
Ciara
-- Modified on 11/2/2008 6:22:26 PM
I am thankful for family and friends both "in real life" and "in the hobby." I have had wonderful experiences in both worlds this past year.
Thank you to all the ladies who make us guys feel like kings, at least for an hour or two.
I have a beautiful son who is learning and growing every day. People love me deeply despite my many flaws, to my constant disbelief. I have one of the coolest moms in the world and was lucky to be raised by 3 of the coolest people ever - 2 of them have passed but I will be thankful for them for the rest of my life. I am thankful for dinner on the table and a roof over my head, which is more than many people in this world have. I am thankful to be having fun ... for a living, and for fun too. I am thankful for the city neighborhood I live in, and the neighboring farmlands, with their sunlit hillsides and crumbling old barns.. for awesome books like A Dog's History of America...
I'll stop there. 
Peace of mind is a good one. I'm thankful that, even in this lousy economy I can still find work and stay busy in my chosen field. I can pay my bills, feed the family and still afford to see my ATF's when I want to. I know a lot of guys can't right now so I am very grateful for this.
So very much:For a start
Five children and 4 (so far) grandchildren who I adore
A profession I have loved with opportunity to care for patients, educate students, develop programs of which I am proud, and do what I consider to be important research
My mother who is still with me and living alone at 95
The fact that I am sexually very active and in relatively good health at 66
The two two marriages I have had which were each rewarding.
I now have a wonderful lady who is my current obsession.
The many wonderful women both professional and civvie I have met many of whom remain dear friends.
The fact that I will vote tomorrow in an election which will decide the leader of a country that offers me freedom, protection,a guarantee of my rights, and --while it loses its way every now and then-- allows us to get it back on track with events like the one we have observed these last 18 months which will culminate tomorrow.
I'm Thankful for my happiness. AND for having the ability and opportunities to share my happiness.
Kisses* Raquel**
