And I’m alone, working on a proposal. Well, mostly procrastinating, but I have time. I’m fine with being alone too. It’s not my year to have the kids, and they’ve gone up to their step-grandparent’s cabin for the whole weekend, so I get to go hunting tomorrow for the second weekend in a row. I’m roasting a duck for myself; I figured that I try out new stuff on the kids often enough, and a fair number of people don’t like duck, so I’ll make myself the only victim this time. I’m also fixing a full recipe of dressing, which I love and will guarantee that I have something leftover to bring up to camp to snack on.

I’m not alone all day though; Junior’s coming over after his family celebration, and he’s bringing pie. How can you beat a man like that?

Thanksgiving is traditionally a day of reflection, and I’ve been doing a fair amount of that lately. It’s really been an incredible year for me, full of turmoil but all working out in the end.

I made a huge career leap, and so far, it’s working out very well for me. I love being the boss, I love getting to work outside with my hands, and I love the money. For the first time in my life, I don’t really have to worry about money. Of course, that will change if I buy a house, and I do have to worry about continuing to get the contract, but the basics are taken care of.

The kids have evened out. John had a hard few years and Seamus was having trouble with school last year. Both of them brought home surprisingly good report cards this time and there have been hardly any groundings. I love that Seamus is finding joy in something that I like so much, and I’m also quite pleased that John is finding joy (and friends, for once) in something too, even if it’s not my “thing.” They’re so much easier for me to relate to at this age.

I’ve been incredibly lucky in finding the group of friends that I have. When I add them all up, I really have a large number of true friends, and even more friendly people. I’ve got friends that have stood by me for years and years, and I’ve connected with some new people this year that I expect to enjoy for years to come. I couldn’t have found a better group of people to hunt with and to learn from, and I’m beginning to feel like I really belong with that crowd too.

And after all of these years of being alone, and with varying levels of happiness about it, I’m thankful to have found this wonderful man. I’m a little on the odd side for a woman, I know, and to have found someone who’s not only cool with that, but loves that about me, is incredible. It’s very soon, but I expect to have a long and happy relationship with this one, and I’m looking forward to every day of it. He suits me like no one else ever has, and to have that drop into your lap out of nowhere is something that I never expected to happen. A couple of months ago, I would have thought (did think) that I was probably going to spend the rest of my life alone, and now I think that maybe I’ll have a partner in it after all. Wow.

So being alone on this particular day? No biggie. I’m not alone in life. I’m surrounded by good people, and I couldn’t be luckier.