Cool People of the World! This is for You!

1. The dude who casts his plays partly based on who needs to play the part. And then helps them be brilliant. You're totally cool. Thanks for doing that.
2. The guys who pulled my van out of the pit I drove it into in front of the chocolate place. Without making fun of me. Yeah. You rock.
3. The guy who made me feel like I didn't look like a flaming idiot in my new skinny jeans–even though I am pre-menopausal and have had my various body parts rearranged by childbirth. You are a true gentleman.
4. The woman who smiles at me in genuine friendliness every time I go into Costco. You're great. I hope you have a fabulous day too.
5. The people who give me honest to goodness real and helpful advice on my writing–but take the time to do it kindly. And don't skimp on the encouragement. You guys are the best, and I'm not even kidding. Thanks.
6. The friends who still hang with us, even after all these years, even though we are dorks. Love you'se guys.
7. The moms who teach their boys to be gentlemen. And their girls to be ladies. THANK YOU.
8. The guy who complimented me on my dress in the hotel lobby when my eyes were red and puffy because I had obviously been crying (and was filled to the brim with post-partum hormones), and I could tell he wanted to do something and couldn't figure out what, so he complimented me on my dress. You're a sweetheart.
9. The family who made me feel welcome in a foreign land by having me over and letting me ask a million questions and being generally hilarious. Totally cool.
10. The people who teach my kids–in whatever capacity: school, scouts, church, lessons, what.ev.er. You are wonderful. Thank you, thank you.
11. Mentors who help me more than they will ever know. Wow. Hearts.
12. The lady on the phone who let me vomit my life all over her when all she wanted was a yes or no answer. And she sat their with a smile. I heard it. You deserve a day off, sweetie.
13. The guys who let me come up twice a year to stay with them and warble all over their stage. You are so kind. And you save my sanity. You've no idea.
14. Children who ask me what they can do to help, or give me hugs when I am exhausted, or do their jobs without being nagged, or get along with each other, or are cheerful when I'm not, or are just plain good kids. Love you from my toes.
15. A husband who has seen me transform from friend, to wife, to preggo-harpy, to post-preggo-unidentifiable-flying-hormone, to wife and friend again, to chef, to anti-chef, to writer, to blob of insecurity, to pre-menopausal maniac, to weepy mom saying goodbye to college kid, to weepy mom watching other kids get ready to follow college kid, to freaked-out wife over husband's suicidal hobbies, to freaked-out-mom over kids following in husbands whackadoo footsteps, to resigned mom/wife/friend, to figuring-it-out-woman, to me. Thanks, puppyknees. Love ya forever.

And that's just fifteen of them! We should get to know the other 6,852,472,813.