My sweet little house – when the sun streams though the windows and illuminates the yellow walls and hardwood floors I feel peace.
Lynn – Many years ago she taught me about extended families – and encouraged me to travel further than the places my mind could take me.
Jackie – Taught me the beauty of the desert and it’s plants. She shared her family and an Indiana white Christmas with me.
Boiko – The boss who saw more in me than I did in myself – for letting me in past your curmudgeonly exterior, and introducing me to this crazy cotton industry, and by default scotch, cigars, and colorful cussing.
Mark Stanley – My architectural instructor, teaching me about the symphony, old town Los Angeles – and that there was more than one way of observing.
Mr. Wilson – who indulged me in all things mechanical – and his ’69 911 *sigh*
Jack and Jacquie – they opened their home, hearts, family, and North Carolina to me when they invited me to work in North Carolina.
My little brother Rick – because you stuck by my side when life was rough in CA.
His wife Christina – because she always makes room for me, and loves him for all the right reasons.
Megan – who’s love of Georgia convinced me maybe I could love the south – can you say, “Gus’s Family Disco and Pizza Parlor”.
Raymond – Extender of shelter and surf fishing in the Outer Banks during the ice-storm of 2002.
The Ginn’s – My Casa Grande family – generous with the spare house key and the bedroom for all those nights I worked too late to drive the 54 miles back to Phoenix.
Les – who shared Tucson, Santa Monica, architecture, and the law with me.
Sharon and Gray – Sharon for being the most wildly enthusiastic adult kid ever & Gray – a structural engineer with the aesthetic of an artist. And both of you for countless camping trips and adventures.
Hawk – of a different generation, but welcomed this brash young woman into cotton – shared his Saturday office retreat, cold Coors beers, and memories of Phoenix’s early cow town days.
Jerry M. – a Columbia graduate, at the top of his cotton game, unfailingly hospitable and generous when I’m in Memphis and who always has a moment and a joke for someone way down here.
Greg – for talking to me endlessly about the future of our industry, for encouraging me, and respecting me, and keeping me company during many a harvest season dinner – all from CA.
My cousin Eric – willing to roll out the red carpet in SF or at the cabin anytime I come to town.
His wife Gayle – an Italian cook beyond compare – who understands the nature of a restorative weekend in Muir Woods.
Sal – always with a twinkle in his eyes. Kind and generous as I drag guest after guest to Sausalito and Angelino’s, for Peroni beer and crispy calamari.
David A. – the first adult cousin who accepted me into the ring of the “big people”.
Carolyn – the personification of generosity and family love. You two taught me about family ties.
Aunt Penny and Uncle Tony – You showed me unconditional love and what I was missing in my life.
Kristen and Scott – for loving this crazy cousin – and letting me know God wanted me now and imperfect – not later and still struggling for perfection.
Jason and Dennise – for unfailing kindness, even when you didn’t have to.
Sarah and Pat – for being my friends, even though we’re cousins, and welcoming me every time I show up.
Sidonie – who teaches me about fearlessness of the heart – and living life large. (And a billion other things from miles and miles away).
Jim and Dick – always extending kindness, friendship, and scotch to the competition!
Jim & Alice – willing to finding a bootlegger for me in Brownsville, and letting me grace your table, time and time again.
Bernice, Ronald, & MawMaw – for always finding room for this hurricane refugee, year after year in Louisiana.
Kevin and Donna – better friends than I deserve. There is no way I can ever repay you for Perdido Key, Rhoda’s tamales, the Lake House, Joe Patti’s, fishing, levee drives, endless cocktails, and friendship.
Jobeth and Sonny – for adding another redhead to your family.
Angie & Roger – southern living and God’s grace – all rolled into one special family.
The Genesis Class – for welcoming an outsider and letting me know Highland is home.
Elaine and Peter – for letting me participate in the Christmas scavenger hunt and other family festivities.
Bynum and Kay - they always welcome me for dinner - whether I show up announced or unannounced.
Lisa, Phill, & Grace – “click” and you felt it too.
Lee – for extending a sincere compliment my way – and smiling every time you look at me.
JMan – who else would talk me off the ledge when I’ve been out on the road too long?
Wesley2005 – a heart, and ear, and a damn good pen. Thank you for the encouragement, lessons, and introducing me to the Café Court.
Alacrityfritz - you provide a good business ear and always cause a smile. Not an easy job to render.
Kevin – for checking in on me when I check out.
For my big brother Rick – I’ve waited all my life for this relationship – and you have made it worth the wait.
And finally for my parents – you have respected my wishes about this self imposed moratorium on our communication. I know it hasn’t been easy, but I think it’s coming to an end. Thank you for more than I can say.
And last but not least – to God, and he knows why!
Some things I can say well, others I fumble with … Beth and Matt Redman say it best of all …
Blessed be Your name In the land that is plentiful Where Your streams of abundance flow Blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name Blessed be the name of the Lord Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away You give and take away My heart will choose to say Lord blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name When I'm found in the desert place Though I walk through the wilderness Blessed be Your name Blessed be Your name When the sun's shining down on me When the world's all as it should be Blessed be Your name Blessed be Your name On the road marked with suffering Though there's pain in the offering Blessed be Your name You give and take away You give and take away My heart will choose to say Lord blessed be Your name
© 2002 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Beth Redman / Matt Redman
3 comments:
It is good to see that you have so much to be thankful for. In some ways it restores my faith in the world. I am glad for you.
You give as good as you get baby
Not entirely true: sometimes you give and get completely f-ed over. Such is life.
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