This week I am grateful for: dawn & drew (and the d+d community), minion690, my feet, kreative kontrol, black bean brownies, doing things I never thought I could, getting rid of crap, my parents & arugula.

I've been having vivid dreams the past few days whose images stay with me longer that waking visions. It's hard to shake them. All today I've been anxious, after waking up to a crazy post about my friends Dawn & Drew, the ones I went and stayed with in Costa Rica twice in the past year. They were attacked in their home by guys with guns & knives, left bloody and robbed of their valuables. In their own home!!! I don't know and can't even imagine what they went through, which causes a lot of anxiety, but some of it is that I CAN imagine the setting because I have been there. Just 3.5 months ago I left after a month stay where I was at their home some nights, sometimes even by myself & other nights I was by myself in the cabina a short walk away in the jungle. A gorgeous place, that jungle by the sea, but with some dangerous aspects. I took nearly the same precautions there as I do here, you just think of it differently because it's jungle not city. No matter what, I can't imagine it happening in my own home. I feel so much for them, for how much they love their home there, for having to experience that, for the decisions they have to make, and I feel so incredibly thankful to be a member of a strong minion army that will step up and support our fearless leaders.

I took the picture above 10 days short of a year ago, when I was printing the first round of d+d shirts. It's kind of creepy that it almost literally says "D&D Emergency" - things you always notice after the fact - but it sent a chill up my spine. I'm so grateful they are alive & thankful for all the friends I've made and experiences I've had because of them. I can't wait to hear their voices again, and come visit them at their next destination. They are strong. They will make it through.

Donate, buy something, do what you can… http://dawnanddrew.com/support

I hate that it takes a tragedy to realize how much you have to be grateful for, even the little things. I'm trying to be more aware of the things & people I am lucky to have in my life. I've been doing a pretty good job of feeling gratitude, if at very least forcing myself to sit down and reconnect with the things that have happened in the past week. I missed last week's post… but I can't even think about what happened that long ago, tomorrow will be a better day.

I CAN. I AM. I WILL.