I Appreciate (To the Readers of New Growth)

In 1984 R&B diva, Alicia Myers, released an album (remember those?) entitled I Appreciate. It featured the hit song, You Get The Best of Me, an infectious little ditty that caused your head to nod. It by no means received the play of her previous hit, the club classic, I Want To Thank You, but it followed her established theme of giving thanks, while showcasing her immense vocal talent.

I've been reading the comments that have been left for me over the past few months, and while I don't always respond back, I see them and appreciate each one. Since I began blogging, back in 2004, I have been amazed at how warmly I've been embraced by a community that has become a family for me. There's my gifted, teenaged son; my crazy sister, Bloopty (who has since suspended her blog); my opinionated brother; my divalicious cousin; my nutty nephew from SE DC and countless others who continue to inspire, encourage and show me love on a daily basis.


I was particularly touched by the outpouring following my Blue Christmas post. I received numerous offers of visitations and invitations to family gatherings. Some of you thought that I couldn't possibly get through the holiday without whipping out the Wilkinson blades and opening up my wrists. I admit it did sound a little dark and had it actually turned out the way I wrote it, I would probably be popping Paxil right about now, but God had other plans for me.


My little sister drove up from Jersey to Brooklyn to spend Christmas Eve with me (this is the same girl with whom I fell out over a B Angie B CD back in the day). I baked a banging lasagna, my mean pound cake and the chocolate chip cookies she loves so much and we fell asleep watching TV until Santa finished his rounds. On Christmas Day we went to the cineplex at Newport Centre to see The Great Debaters (shout out to Denzel and Oprah) and then over to my Aunt Jane's in South Orange for one of her amazing dinners. I missed the presence of my great-aunts, but it was still a wonderful Christmas. I was even happy to see the family crackhead (don't we all have one?).


After Chistmas took on a life of its own, I made no plans for New Year's Eve. I thought about heading to ClubShelter to ring in 2008 with my favorite DJ. Finding a good church service was also high on my list of possibilities, but instead one of my best friends came to visit from out of state and I rang in the new year quietly at home. I baked some terrific turkey wings, my incredible stuffing, made with sausage and fresh cranberries and Al Roker's mama's sweet potato poon. I was actually asleep at midnight and woke up at 2 AM to find the calendar had changed. Baby New Year was running around the house in a pissy pamper. I'll be glad when 2008 is potty-trained.

I greet each day with gratitude; thankful for the connections made and the lessons learned in 2007 and most of all for the new mercies that, morning by morning, I see. I am especially grateful to my Blogger family. Some of you are listed on the right, but many of you are not. As much as I believe I write New Growth just for myself, your support and encouragement keeps me pecking away.

You get the best of me.