Laughing, and Giving Thanks for 2009, the Best (?) Year of My Life

My original title for this article was "Laughing, and Giving Thanks for 2009, the Hardest Year of My Life." But then I realized that no one's going to want to read about the "hardest year of my life," even though I'm supposedly laughing and giving thanks for it, so I changed the title. I don't really believe that 2009 is the "best" year of my life (unless I'm being sarcastic), but one thing's for sure: I'll never forget this year.

This Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for...

My daughter's perfect smile. She's had nine weeks of chemotherapy and eight radiation treatments, lost almost all of her hair, gained weight, lost weight, spent almost two full weeks in the hospital, and learned to hate every kind of liquid medicine, but she hasn't stopped smiling! She is AMAZING!!! I wanna be just like her when I grow up!

My husband, who sings exactly like Eddie Vedder. He works hard, plays with our kids, is willing to see the Twilight films with me, and smells good (unless he's eaten too much cheese). I'm very glad I married a cute Star Wars geek.

My super-smart, sensitive son. He builds awesome LEGO creations, knows everything there is to know about SpongeBob SquarePants, writes and illustrates stories, loves his second-grade teacher almost as much as vanilla ice cream, and plays dollhouse with his little sister (his Star Wars Clone Trooper action figures like to crash their ship into her dollhouse).

My family: Grandmas and Grandpas, Moms and Dads, Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, Brothers and Sisters. What would we do without their love and support? (Pop quiz: How many family members were in the hospital room with us when we heard my daughter's official cancer diagnosis?...EIGHT! That says it all, doesn't it?)

Friends who treat me like family. And I'm including some very special "internet friends" in this group. I hope you all take the time to get to know your fellow writers at AC-there are some extraordinary people here! My "real world" friends are extraordinary, too; they've known me for many, many years, and they still like me, for some reason.

The healers: the doctors who are doing everything in their power to cure my daughter; and all the people, all over the world, who are praying and focusing their healing energy on her complete recovery.

Good food, especially frozen custard and vegetarian lasagna.

Pleasant diversions: all of the Rock Band and Guitar Hero video games, my favorite TV shows--American Idol, The Office, So You Think You Can Dance, Lost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which we just started watching in 2009), and Frasier (the greatest sitcom ever)--and wildly entertaining, naughty AC articles like this one. (You're welcome, Frank!)

My small, messy house. It keeps us warm and dry, and that's good enough for me.

My small, dirty car. Such a good car! Is it inappropriate to hug a car?

All of the people who take the time to read my mostly-silly articles on Associated Content. I know you all have better things to do. Thanks for stopping by and leaving such nice comments. I truly appreciate it.

Soul-nourishing music, unbridled laughter, and peace--wherever I find them.

2009 hasn't been such a bad year, after all! Happy Thanksgiving!