One of the rules in my house growing up was that we were required to write thank you notes for all of our birthday and Christmas gifts before we could fully enjoy them.  It was a simple lesson in gratitude and etiquette that I’ve tried to continue even in my adult life.  “When people do nice things for you, the appropriate response is a heart-felt thank you.” Mom couldn’t have been more right not that I’m surprised by that.

After I finally dragged my butt out of my big comfy bed on Sunday morning, I (like a kid on Christmas morning) couldn’t wait to open my gifts and read what my guest bloggers had written for me while I was away.  Four of my closest friends in their own way and voice presented me (and all of you) with the simple gift of a different perspective than you get to see around here. Yet, what amazed me was that somehow each of them had missed the memo that they were doing me a favor.  Here I am asking for their time… for their words and thoughts… and they’re the honored ones?  The ones who are panicked?  Who feel privileged?  I’m the one who was overwhelmed with your generosity.  Who was moved by your willingness to put your lives on hold to help me out.  Who needs to be screamin’ from the rooftops, “THANK YOU!!!”  I truly adore each of you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, and a special thank you for keeping this place pink.

Cory, as usual, made me laugh as he confessed his epic failures to the ‘Pink Nation’. (I have a feeling his panic at forgetting to post was what caused the extreme amount of WoW jargon.) Lauren, of course, was Lauren.  So lovable and genuine that you want to sip cups of coffee with her and see how she brightens your day.  HeatherBee, my musical soulmate, let’s take another road trip together.  We could load up our iPods and open our souls to one another with each rhythm and rhymes.  What do you say?  Eric, well you did spice things up about with your willingness to touch a subject I’ve left alone for months, but to be honest, I never expected to be called out on my own blog.

Over and over for the past few months I’ve been reciting the line to Mr. Blues and others that I’m ‘waiting’ for the debates to decide who gets my vote.  Honestly, that was BS; he was right.  My mind’s been made up for quite sometime, but I’ve been subconsciously holding out for a miracle.  I’ve never once had an issue believing what I believe, and for any of you who know me, I never hesitate to let my voice be heard.  But lately, I’ve felt like the lone kid on the block who knows that Santa Claus isn’t real.  I’ve been begging to be swept away and be a part of the excitement that has infected so many of my generation, and that’s just not going to happen.

It’s time for me to be honest with myself and quit hoping the rulebook will be rewritten and I’ll wind up at the popular kids’ table. Despite our differences, the teenage-like peer pressure to hang with the cool kids, and our preconceived notions of what red and blue voters look like, I have to hope for a middle ground that allows excitement to pair up with wise decisions where stiff Conservatives dance with spry Liberals even if I won’t be sitting on Santa’s lap this November.  So, while I’ll never be a political pundit, I will stop being a liar when it comes to my choices and beliefs. Who knew that a simple guest blogging task could unearth such hidden revelations.  Thanks, EB, and thanks to each and every one of you for being so kind to these four who mean so much to me (now I’m sounding like JM.)