12 Days of Christmas Thankfulness: Day 1

Christmas Thankful Cathy Mom

My birthday (the big 4-0!) has added an extra patina of sentimentality and reflection to this holiday.

In honor of this milestone—punctuated by finally unlocking the “author” achievement—I’ve assembled my own 12 days of Christmas* Thankfulness.

Day 1: Cathy Taylor
Day 2: Sue LaGow
Day 3: Ryan Hylland
Day 4: Jackie Phillips
Day 5: Szaba and Von
Day 6: Shanon Lyon
Day 7: Kerry Colburn
Day 8: Debbie Reber
Day 9: Peter Orullian
Day 10: Christa Charter
Day 11: Steam Crow
Day 12: 1986 State Fair Judging Panel

These people dropped the breadcrumbs that led me straight to this publishing adventure. Thank you, all, for your part in this Hero’s Journey.

* Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the 12 days before Christmas. Per the Oxford English Dictionary, it’s the 12 days leading up to the Epiphany (January 6) “observed as a time of merrymaking.”

Cathy, my mom: who taught me the values of family, creativity, self expression, commitment, and organization. — Cathy, my mom: who taught me the value of family, books, creativity, commitment, and of course, organization.

Mom

Cathy Taylor raised me in the library. She was a children’s librarian, and I fondly remembering wiling away afternoons in literary wonderland. We always had a big bag of library books waiting to be devoured and a felt-board story ready to enchant us. I even recall chapter book readings in the car on the way to grandma’s house.

Thank you, Mom, for planting the seed of literacy that’s blossomed into my life.

Oh, and for bringing me into being, of course. I’m very appreciative of that, too.

I look forward to seeing where the journey goes from here and all the amazing people I’ll have the pleasure to encounter in the next 40 years…

Banner photo inspired by Sarah Witherby’s 12 Days, Flickr Creative Commons.