Giving Thanks

Greetings from a cozy little coffee shop in Ames, Iowa!

I'm on a field trip from the farm, where I'm fixing to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family, and wanted to touch base with the blogosphere about some thoughts I've been having about giving thanks.

Of course I'm thankful for hundreds of things--I have a great family, and a network of fantastic friends, a job in a difficult economy, and a roof over my head.

But truth be told, it was sort of a bummer getting diagnosed with MS this year, and there have been a few times where I let myself dwell on the implications of that diagnosis. But at the same time, it has also helped me realize that today, I'm in a pretty freakin' good place. I'm heading into the winter season with lots of soccer, a newly renewed gym membership, and a brand new pair of snowshoes.

Sometimes I'm not sure if my family and friends understand why I have been filling so much of my schedule with physical activity of late, but the truth of the matter is this: Today, I can. And I honestly and realistically don't know if I'll be able to say that tomorrow. So even though it's expensive, and at times conflicts with some other fun activities, it is good for me. And it reminds me that my diagnosis with MS does not mean I have to change my lifestyle--at least not today. And for that I think I'm pretty damn lucky.

So from someone who has a tremendous amount to be thankful for, I send you my very best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving. And I hope you all have much to be thankful for this year as well.

The Night Before New York

Tomorrow marks my first airline travel since starting the Copaxone--the last of the travel tests with my injections. I have my travel kit prepared... ice block frozen, meds in their case, doctor's note in the pocket. I'm resigning myself to the fact that--despite my phenomenal packing and organization skills--I might just be that jackhole who takes hours to get through security. Oh well, I suppose it's worth it--I'm going to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and lovely niece in New York. The weekend promises to be fun-filled and busy, as some of our relatives from Norway will be visiting the big apple at the same time, as will a good friend of my brother's and mine from back here in Minneapolis.

I cannot begin to tell you how much I'm looking forward to getting away--a break from work, a break from the dogs, and mostly a reminder that I survived a long and dreary October (I think it rained almost every single day). November is going to kick some ass, and I can't think of a better place to officially usher it in.

Check back next week for a delightful photographic recap of the long weekend.