Day 72: Hugs and Kicks

Today, I am grateful for:

• the amazing nurses at my grandmother's hospice center. She got moved there today, and the place is beautiful, and the staff are amazing. They take perfect care of my grandmother and have really made an effort to get to know the family. They chat with us but don't get in the way, and they make my grandmother as comfortable as she possibly can be.
  
• Peter being in such high spirits. He has surgery on Monday and has terminal cancer, but he has all of these crazy plans for "when [he] gets out of [there]." He wants to buy a 7-11 because he's craving a cherry coke slurpee. Knowing Peter, he might actually buy one.
  the possibility of seeing Ricky on Tuesday. For not liking my father all that much, I love his friends. Rick is one of his oldest friends and has always been a part of my life. He's practically family and has always been there for me and for my family.
  
• the lavender room. It's the guest room at my aunt and uncle's house, and it's beautiful and soothing with all of these old photos and great art. I am beyond grateful to be staying with family instead of a hotel.
  
• Dick's cheeseburgers and fries. I know I don't eat beef anymore, but I had to make an exception because they're so damn good. I have so many memories from college, from high school, from my childhood, that all involve Dick's.
  

And because I could use a little extra awesomeness in my life, and I happen to have it, I am also grateful for:

• having the most amazing friends in the world. I can't think you guys enough for all of the support and love and normalcy that you have given me. It really does make a difference. It's been great to have the support, but it's also nice to just chat like normal. It makes me feel like my world isn't ending; it's just changing a little.
  
• having an amazing family. Honestly, my mom's side of the family is freakishly close. They're some of my best friends, and sitting around chatting with my aunt while sitting by my grandmother's bed was incredibly calming. And then sitting around at their house last night, it felt so good to just be a family. We could chat and laugh and catch up. We didn't just band together because we're losing someone. We're there for each other no matter what.
  Love to everyone. You guys are the greatest. XoXo