Thankful Thursday!

Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life. - Christiane Northrup


I sure hope that you had a happy week and that you found yourself grateful no matter what (if anything) you celebrated!


The five winners this week are...


Target - Yeah, the store. I don't care what you think. I find great comfort in Target. I've been there more than I have been anywhere else since I have been home (besides my mom's). I love that I can find whatever I need there and that many of the people know me. I said that I missed Target while I was in Liverpool and I am already missing Target for my return. I might not stay in the UK just for Target and....

Victoria's Secret - I don't care that she is one of those girls who carry a secret and tells everyone that she has a secret just to get attention! I love her and her secret! (Do you know the real secret? I'll tell you if you don't.) I love that stinkin' store! I have been there a lot too since I have been home. There is one opening in London in the fall of 2012 and I am super excited about that because it will just be a matter of time before one opens in Liverpool. I have "clothes" that fit me now. And her perfume is quite amazing too! So to you Vickie, I send you some gratitude and a request to be a bit cheaper. I'll blackmail you with your secret.


Pinterest - It's really just Myspace's bumper sticker app on a website but I still think I might enjoy it. I am grateful for it because I have been distracted by it for the better part of an hour as I have been thinking of what to be grateful for this week. I don't recommend you get an account going as it really seems like a mindless waste of time.


Scranton Cultural Center - I am going to get about 14 hours of work next week. That's 14 hours of U.S. dollars. That is 7 hours of British pounds. Bam!


Liverpool - I am quite grateful that the city exists and attracted me to it with it's alluring history/roots of the best band in the history of the entire world. I've met my flatmates and my other friends in the chaos of the city and I met Dan. Seems like I owe Liverpool a pretty huge thanks. They're not kidding when they say "You'll never walk alone!"




What are you thankful for?


I'd be thankful if you posted something.

Thankful Thursday!!

Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need. - Sarah Ban Breathnach





As Christmas is fast approaching each one of us are doing our own preparations in order to make this holiday even more enjoyable than last year. Jacob wants a PSP, a dog, and for his Auntie Autumn to come home. I can’t convince Debbie to get a dog and I am not sure about the PSP but I knew that Old Saint Nick and I could work something out to bring Jacob’s favorite aunt home for Christmas!



The journey from Liverpool to Scranton was exhausting, annoying, and, at times, downright rude. But, if you think that for one second I didn’t find something to be grateful for then you can just consider yourself to be a stranger to me!



And the five winners this week are…



David from Croatia - ended up to be quite a helpful person on our 8 hour plane ride from London to NYC! The flight wasn’t full and there was a seat in between us. We shared it for the snacks and for our belongings but then there was the old man in front of me. This gentleman had no consideration for my personal space on this flight. He pushed his seat back farther than it could go. For real, seat 42H on this plane is not a place you want to sit.) I know I am not the skinniest gal in the land but I am also not the biggest and this man had me squished between a plane seat and, well, a plane seat. So I turned to David and I said in my kindest American voice, “Do you mind if I take up two seats?” Kindly David said, “No, go right ahead,” as he rolled his eyes at the gentleman lying in my lap. In typical Autumn fashion I spent the six hours taking up two seats and leaning on this guys shoulder. I would say I am embarrassed about this but I am not because it is the first time I have ever slept that long on a plane. When I woke up we chatted about why he was coming to America. It turns out he is a dentist(!) and his fiancé is living in NYC and he comes out to visit her twice a year for two months. David, thanks for letting me sleep on your shoulder. Universe, thanks for sending him along! Now I know there is such thing as a tourist visa which is super important for Dan.

Old Friends - I didn’t realize how much I would miss these people when I left Scranton in August. I saw all of my best today for the first time (without computer assistance) in four months. We all went to Fratelli’s for dinner and it was great to see everyone. Krissy was late; Katie was trying not to spit soda out from laughing so hard; Stefanie read my face like a book when the jet lag finally hit me; Donna was the one to light a fire under the waiter’s butt (I have no idea who this guy is but I don’t ever want him again); the rest of the staff at Fratelli’s made me feel like Britney Spears for the whole night (because I am B. Spears). Oh, Liz greeted me with a Backstreet Boys t-shirt (stoked). I was just so grateful that I have these awesome people in my life. I miss everyone in England so very much but having these guys around helps me realize that there is no place like home. So for all of the friends that I have seen today or have tried to see today, I am grateful for you.



A Blue Blanket and Purple Scarf- It’s really interesting to leave your life in America for England and it’s also interesting to leave your life in England for America. As soon as I was getting comfortable, I upped and left! So before my journey Dan gave me those two items to bring with me to America. Of course they remind me of him (as they are his) but they remind me of my flatmates for different reasons too. It’s amazing that four months ago I had no idea who these people were and now I find myself missing them every day. These two items makes missing my second home a bit less missful. (I made that word up.)



Home – not just the roof over my head but everything that is around it! The roads, the workers at the different stores, the familiarity of the accents, I am grateful for all of it. Scranton is kind of like Cheers. The last 24ish hours have been full of hugs and smiles and sometimes you really just want to go where everybody knows your name. Scranton, I am grateful for you (don’t get too excited about that one though I am probably still suffering from exhaustion)!

My Prince, Danilo! - Nilo is my godson and I swear I do not know how my heart hasn’t burst between loving him and Jacob so much! As I mentioned earlier the travel home was exhausting. But when I got to Fratsmelli’s and Nilo had a smile brighter than the summer sunshine when he saw me, it was all worth it. I went to him and gave him a big kiss and he said “Hi, Auntie Autumn!” My heart melted when I heard/saw him say that and I knew that coming home for Christmas was the right choice! I am particularly grateful for Nilo this week as he made my journey from England less tiresome as soon as I saw that smile.





What are you grateful for this wonderful week?

Thankful Thursday!

When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.  -- Willie Nelson

My bed - I know that most people are probably grateful that they have a bed, but no one is as grateful as I am for a bed that is 3,500 miles away from me.  The bed I am currently hibernating in is smaller than our twin beds.  Seriously, I don’t even think this bed has enough room for Jacob.  Many nights, I think of my $75 queen size bed that I bought from a woman whose daughter moved out before she could have used it.  For anyone who wants to know what it is like to sleep in Heaven, I have your ticket. I cannot wait to sleep in that bed again. I don’t know when that will be as it is in my mother’s garage right now. But I know it is as grateful for me as I am for it.

Kraft Mac & Cheese – You wouldn’t imagine that you would be grateful for something as simple as Kraft Mac & Cheese until you realize that it isn’t as simple as you thought! The M&C here is not so great.  I’ve tried many different brands and nothing does it for me like the cheesiest M&C in all of the land.  The American store in town gets it in once in a while and when they don’t have it I get extraordinarily sad.  Last night, I woke up in the middle of the night and I was starving.  Lucky for me, Dan bought two boxes on Monday while I was in class! Nothing is better than M&C at two a.m.  So to you Kraft, you’re the best. Dan, you’re not so bad yourself.    J

Guitars – No joke.  I think guitars are something that I am most grateful for!  Imagine my life without guitars!  How empty it would be!  I go to The Cavern Club every Sunday to see The Shakers and every week I find myself just staring at their hands as they play theirs guitars.  I claim I am a fan of words in songs but I believe I am an equal fan of guitars.  I mean, without a guitar, who would Mr. Lennon be?!   

My Ability to Work under Pressure - Some people crack under pressure.  Some people see deadlines and they freak out with anxiety even if the deadline is three months from the current time.  But then there is Autumn Rose!  I am awesome under pressure!  I am so grateful for that!  I had to do a presentation today. Although I have thought about it for the last two months, I didn’t really start it until today and it was due at 5:30 this evening.  I am freaking awesome!  So for you, ability to work under pressure I am thankful. Procrastination, you will never make it in this blog.  

Alex in Flat 2C - makes me smile a huge smile!  He is so funny and kind.  If I ever need a laugh he is the guy to call!  Alex is kind hearted and whenever I may be upset, I know I can call him and he will listen to me.   He is very kind and accepts everyone for who they are.  The world could use more people like him.  So, Alex, you are the honorary person I am thankful for this week.

What are you thankful for? 

Thankful Thursday!

Gratitude is the music of the heart, when its chords are swept by the breeze of kindness. ~Author Unknown


Today is an unusual day for me to try to be grateful for things as today is the 31st anniversary of the day that the music died, the dream ended, and the hope for a return of Beatlemania was crushed. But, I will find things to be grateful for… read along.



Here we go…

That I am not Piglet – Do you remember Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day? Well, that was definitely set in Liverpool. It is the windiest place I have ever known. Chicago is nothing compared to this place. I am just extraordinarily grateful that I am not Piglet or someone like him. When I am trying to sleep and the wind howls as if it has no manners at all, I just picture poor Piglet being tossed around the One Hundred Acre Wood and I happy I am not him.

Lola- No reason to go in to detail here. I’m quite glad that her type exists. She does what I need her to do. Not glad I need to know her, but I am glad I do.

Stefanie – is my oldest and truest Beatle friend. We also displayed proudly our love for BSB (we still do) and we didn’t care who had what to say about it. For most of middle school and all of high school, Stefanie and I found ourselves in the most interesting trouble. They are times I still laugh at today. I wish I could share with you half of the silly things we did but it’s still just a bit too embarrassing. Stef, duck!

But even now, I can text Stefanie from the other side of the world (and it’s even better this week because she is in Texas) and she will be there to make me laugh, lend an ear, offer support or just remind me why I am not an idiot for feeling a certain way. And to confirm that what I am experiencing is indigestion and not a gall bladder attack, this is more important than one person may think.

Back to The Beatles. I don’t even know if we began liking them together or separately. I just knew one day I liked them and then I knew she did. So for this week, that is why I am most grateful for Stefanie Susan. Not many kids liked The Beatles when we were in school; I suppose they didn’t know any better. But because one other person understood why I loved The Beatles so much it made it much easier for me to embrace The Fab Four and not care if anyone else thought they were cool.

The Beatles Anthology - I owe too much gratitude to all of the people who put together Anthology. It originally aired in November 1995. If you want to see the full story of how I was introduced to The Beatles you can read my blog about it here Chasing Dreams. If you haven’t read that then why in the world are you reading this? If it weren’t for Anthology, I might have never known The Beatles and if I never knew The Beatles, I might not have the awesome friends, beliefs, outlook on life, living arrangements, or joy that I have now. I was talking to Dan last night and mentioned how it amazes me that because two guys met at a church picnic 54 years ago, I am living in Liverpool, England. Strange how history really does affect  the present. Don’t get me wrong, there are many other factors that helped me get to Liverpool, but there is only one reason why I chose to come here.

John Lennon – I have decided that I am not going write sad things about Lennon’s death 31 years ago today. Everyone has done that. I am thrilled that this man came along. I am well aware that I probably wouldn’t know who he or the other Beatles were if he was still alive or I wouldn’t like them as much, if I did. Obviously I would trade not knowing of him at all if it meant he would still be breathing, not because he is John Lennon, but because he is a human being. But it is thanks to him (and my mom) that I think that way. I put others before myself because I believe in peace and goodwill toward men. I know he wasn’t always perfect. Nowhere near perfect actually. He was complex, rude, and mean. But we are all that way. We are human. He was also witty, smart, caring, talented, wanted to see a change for better in the world and tried to make it happen. That last part isn’t something that many of us do, myself included. We are human.

I am grateful that he existed because there isn’t a question that can’t be answered by some song of his, whether it is while he was with The Beatles or during his solo years. Sometimes, I can even find it in his books. My friend was bumming before and said that he wasn't sure if he made the right choice in coming to Liverpool. What did I say to him? Exactly what I would say to you: there’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be. My friend thanked me for that. I told him not to thank me but to thank Lennon.

So yeah, many might think that the day the music died is December 8, 1980. I disagree. Things that Lennon sang about still ring true today. We cannot say that many musicians, poets, writers etc. words are timeless. He was a man of peace and love.   He and Debbie have turn me into the hippie that I am today.  So for Lennon existing, I am forever grateful.  So are Dan, Bianca, and Shani.

What are you thankful for? 

Thankful Thursday!

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." -Buddha

I bet you all thought that I wouldn't do another post this week!  How little faith you must have in me!  Of course I would do a post this week as the last post was the very delayed but extremely long Thanksgiving post! 

So this week I am grateful for... 

Blankets -  When the heater in your room decides to fail you there is no better time to be grateful for your blankets. Although, my blankets are quite pitiful compared to the ones I have at home, they were enough to keep me warm last night. I was incredibly grateful that I lugged one of them all the way from Target in the States to my wonderful Liverpudlian home. 

My iPod - Although I am mostly an agreeable and approachable person nothing pleases me more than detaching from society for a while by putting those little ear buds in my ears. I thoroughly enjoy prancing about town with music flooding my ears and alienating myself in public. That kind of sounds rude.  Sometimes you just need to get away from everything and I am grateful for my iPod that can assist me in doing that.    And I am also sort of grateful that is a limited edition Beatles iPod.  You can be sort of jealous if you want to be.

Heat Patches, Icy Hot, etc -  How grateful I am for the inventions of items like these is extraordinarily ridiculous!  As many of you know my arm often aches from a car accident a few years ago.  When my arm isn't hurting my back hurts. When my back decides to leave me be, my legs remind me that they exist. You can imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon Liverpool's Icy Hot and heat patches!  I was so grateful to smell that awful medicinal smell again! In just under 30 minutes of putting the cream on my arm, I was relieved of said pain.  You laugh but nothing says easy fix like these items.

Winston, the giraffe - He isn't a real giraffe of course. He is a stuffed animal with lavender in his belly. He smells wonderful. He's the best cuddler in the whole world.   So I am grateful that I have him to cuddle with!

Sam - is my flatmate in room 1C.  I am grateful for her because she is very helpful around the flat.  Her family was so kind to me for Thanksgiving.  We all went over to hers and they made us a Thanksgiving dinner. It was so kind!  I am grateful because Sam and her family made my Thanksgiving in Liverpool awesome. 

Totally Tardy Thanksgiving "Thankful Thursday" Tuesday!

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." -Thornton Wilder

Since it was Thanksgiving I thought I should do an extra special post, at least that is my intention. So this week I will write awesome thanks for people that I have not written about yet. Sigh 42 words into it and I am already bored. For anyone who isn’t in this one, I do love you and I do think that you’re awesome. I just need to have someone to write about after Thanksgiving too! =) This took much longer than I had expected.

So here we go…


Liz – drives me insane! She is my best friend but the woman is right up there with Corey and Debbie on the let’s drive Autumn nuts scale. Don’t worry; she feels the same about me. As with the rest of the people in this post, there are a billion reasons why I should be thankful for Liz and I will never be able to name them all (although she would love it if I did). For starters, Poopie knows what I need to say to her without me even saying a word. Most times, she knows what she needs to say in response and sometimes (more often than she deserves) I want to step on her toes for it. When I speak in code, she is usually the first one to figure out what I am trying to say.

I am one of those people who believe that you have many soul mates in a lifetime. Some of them are with you from the get go and some of them you don’t meet until later on in life. Liz is a soul mate of mine. We are two halves to a whole. We have put up with each other for almost a lifetime (for real, 21 years) and that alone is something that the both of us should be grateful for as we are hardly easy people to handle. We have had some less than great times and we have had more than excellent times. We both know when we need to stay quiet and just listen; we know when to speak up when the other’s words have failed her. We do not tolerate seeing each other get hurt but we also bite our tongue even when it kills us. Actually, that last part is a lie. We really don’t bite our tongues at all. That’s probably how we get into half of the trouble that we get into.

I am grateful for Liz because she offers me help when I am far too stubborn to ask for it. By offering, I mean she just does what I need to be done without asking because she knows that I will say no. She will see an oncoming heartbreak and just wait it out instead of telling me to steer clear because she knows that I won’t listen. For times that she does tell me to stay away and I don’t listen, she will never say, “I told you so.” (That is very important to be a friend of mine.) She knows when to use a verb instead of preposition with the most important sentences in my life. I am grateful for her because I can give her a look or breathe a sigh and she knows whether or not to go all counselor on me.

She is someone I can be completely shallow around and it’s okay because she’ll be shallow too. It happens to the best of us. Liz will tear anyone down if they try to bash my character. Most people know well enough not to say anything about Liz when I am around as my words are bigger than theirs. When I found myself in a tough time (that lasted/is lasting years) I know I can call her at 5:24 a.m. because she will be awake by then and she will know how to clear my head. She’s also threatened to run people over with her SUV for me. In that case, she should be thankful for me because I was the one to think clearly and say “No, Liz, I don’t think that is the best idea you’ve had.” Hindsight, I guess a little tap with her bumper would have brought me justice. Perhaps the reason I am most grateful for Liz is because when I need to listen to bad music (and sing along to it) she is always ready with a drink in her hand and quarters in her pocket.

Krissy – is a special one. Sometimes you really wouldn’t even believe we are friends. Most times, we don’t get along. We hardly ever see eye to eye and when we do it’s because we’re annoyed with each other. But if there is anyone in the world that has my back, it is this girl. No argument, distance, or time can ever make me think otherwise. Like Liz, I have a billion reasons why I am grateful for Krissy stumbling into my life.

Sometimes, it’s for pure comic relief.

Krissy (aka Micka or Narkles) might be my best entertainment of all time. The things that she does sometimes are absolutely hysterical that even comedy writers couldn’t make it up. She dances around in a Michael Myers mask which probably isn’t funny to you but I can still watch the video and laugh just as hard as I did the first time. Narkles is one of the reasons why I can laugh at most things that go wrong in life. For example, she was diagnosed with narcolepsy on my birthday. I found that humorous. She came out of the doctor’s office and said, “Well, I have narcolepsy.” I laughed right in her face. You might find this rude, but she didn’t. To be honest, if the roles were reversed she’d laugh in my face too. Krissy is far from an idiot (honestly, she’s smarter than she gives herself credit for) but if anyone has done something a bit on the stupid side (but funny) it’s Micka. I am laughing as I am writing this because all of these memories of laughing “WITH” Krissy are flooding my head. She’s a trip to know. If you don’t know her, I’d work that out and meet her. Just like Liz, I think Mick is a soul mate; it makes me laugh just as I type this.

A reason why I am grateful for Micka is because she waits to tell me things until she feels I am ready to know it. You may think this is a “God” complex but it’s more like an “Aud Will Flip So Don’t Tell Her About This Yet” complex. She really saves the world a bunch of trouble by doing this. I am grateful for her because we can speak to each other in a way that I can’t with my other friends. Many, if not most, times I have to be really mean to her because that’s how she listens. And most times she has to be rude to me to get something through this thick head of mine. She can make me change my mind on things that I never thought I would. Or at least she is one that is able to reason with me the most. That’s impressive because I am quite stubborn and if someone can change my mind, they deserve a medal.

Mick is an aspiring nurse. I say aspiring with a light heart because she has wanted to do this for so long but just got distracted by other things. However, I always saw the nurse quality in her. How could I not? I have been her number one patient since we were eleven. When I lived in the States, but not at my mom’s, and fell ill to a point where I was too sick to get out of bed, it was Micka that would be the first one at my apartment to help me out. She could go to the store before she came over and get the things I would need or want in order to get better. There aren’t many people that can do that. She’s someone that takes the time for me whenever I need her and that is something I can never stop being feeling grateful for. Oh, and she has a beautiful daughter, Lily, that I simply adore more than life itself.

Another reason I am grateful for Narkles is because she is the one that always has my back. Not that my other friends do not, but if can rely on anyone to help me or defend me or to tell a waitress that my order is wrong, it’s Krissy. From calling her in a middle of a crisis or if I need her to literally pack up my house and move it, she is always the one to say she will help and then actually help. There are many friends that say that they would take a bullet for another friend. When it comes to Krissy, I know she would jump in front of a bus for me. And then I’d push her back out of the way and we’d end up yelling at each other over who was going to get hit by a bus that day. Quite comical, then even more funny when you realize how true this idea is!

Katie - aka as Brennan, among other (not so nice) nicknames, I suppose you can say I met by a fluke. I knew of her well before I was friends with her. She was frienemies with Krissy and Liz. I met her through Krissy and did hang out with her a few times about ten years ago and then we disappeared from each other only to stumble back right when we would need each other the most. I happened to need a new roommate and as it were, she happened to need a place to live. It worked out quite well. The way our stories are similar is extremely eerie but extraordinarily useful when we have to figure out what the next move should be because more likely than not the other one had to make the same moves weeks before. Katie knows what it is like to be in the situations that I find myself in and her guidance through my latest mess ups, heart breaks, or simple mishaps is something that I am grateful for.

But, wait! There’s more!

As I have mentioned a previous post, I LOVE to laugh! What is better than laughing? Making someone else laugh! This might sound silly to some but I am grateful that Brennan laughs so easily. Nothing brings a smile to my face like when she wheezes during the 11 o’clock news. Don’t worry, she doesn’t laugh at horrible news, she laughs at my making fun of the horrible news production! I am quite positive that there wasn’t one day in our living arrangement that we didn’t laugh hysterically at something. Even on super awful, no good, very bad days we still found something to laugh about. Even if it is just one of us saying something that no one else would understand and laugh uncontrollably because of it, we are always laughing.

Of course, we have our lovedog, Delilah. What says best heterosexual life partner ever like a lovedog? I am grateful for her taking custody of the P.I.A. as I spread my wings in Liverpool. I know she is in good hands (and they always liked each other way better than they liked me).

Although (like the others) there are a billion reasons why I am thankful for my Brenizzle, I think the reason I am most grateful for her is because she tells me when to remove my head from the place where the sun doesn’t shine and that isn’t because I am being rude, it’s because I am being an idiot. She gave my great advice (once). She said, “Aud, sometimes you just need… you just need to shut up.” Often times that goes through my head and I realize I do need to shut it. (NOT THAT OFTEN THOUGH.) And she also tells me the truth in the funniest yet nicest ways. Because our stories are similar, we get each other in a way that our other friends can’t, which is a good thing; no one wants to have a story like one of ours. We don’t judge either from our past or current mistakes and that is worth more than anything. I know that I can tell her a story that some other friends would be exhausted of hearing by now and she would listen because she has been there. Her experience in my story has me grateful beyond a point of measurement because it reminds me that I am not alone. Sometimes, that’s really all someone needs.

And then there’s the whole used to be my roommate and she was my longest running roommate idea. For real, I have had many roommates and Brennan was my favorite. So here is a quick gist of some of the funny and serious things I am grateful for with Brenizzle: She often made me nuggets and fries and sometimes even Stove Top stuffing; she often skipped around the house smacking her arse and singing; when I would be freaking out about school and telling myself I couldn’t do it she would say, “Aud, you got this;” she participated in Halloween parties even though she hates Halloween; she often takes time to explain things to me that I don’t understand ( I am quite naïve); she almost fought a man at a bar one night for me; she never said a word when I would be in the middle of a project for school and had papers all over our living room floor; she joins me for DMB concerts; lastly, she doesn’t mind that I gave her the rudest nickname!

My nana - is one of the most amazing women I know. If there is a woman who can burst from loving people so much it is Nana. She has made so many sacrifices for her family that she should be given an award or declared a saint or something. I knew I would miss her while I was here but I didn’t imagine that I would miss her so much! I am grateful for her for so many reasons but I think the biggest reason I am grateful for her is because she never stopped being a grandma. It doesn’t matter that I am 27, if I were to see her right now she’d ask if I was hungry (a billion times until I ate something) and make sure I didn’t need any money. Not to mention she would totally be hollering at me for not wearing a jacket and I’m sure that she would tell me I need to pull up my pants.

Nana has wisdom that I will never expect to have and will probably never fully recognize but that doesn't mean that I am not grateful for it. She is one of the smartest people I know. She deals with brainy matters. More importantly, she deals with matters of the heart. I suppose that is what makes her such a great nana. She can help heal a broken heart with a few words and make me laugh with just a face. I can talk to her for hours and will feel better by the time we are done. She doesn’t let me feel silly for crying and waits patiently between the sobs so she can hear the whole story. Then, she will think of the best way to help me. Nana has so many stories to share it’s always nice to sit and listen to her tell me a story (even if it’s one I have heard 26,000 times).

Nana always told me great things as I was growing up. One of my favorites is “you can’t be broker than broke,” which always comes to mind at the most appropriate times. The one thing that Nana has told me since I was little is that “there is always someone who has it worse than you do, Autumn. Don’t forget that.” This has always stuck with me, especially when I am on the verge of a pity party. There isn’t a day goes by that I don’t hear Nana’s words play in my head. So for Nana introducing me to the reality of situation early on in life is something I find myself most grateful for.

Jacob – is my favorite person on the planet. No, in the universe! It’s funny how grateful and happy I am that this little boy is in my life. Although, he had no control over it, he came in to our (my) life just in time. I went to a fortunate teller in November '06 and she told me that a fake blonde was going to have a baby. I couldn’t think of any fake blondes I knew so I had imagined it was going to be my brother’s girlfriend (who highlights her dirty blonde hair). I was excited and laughed as I told my mom the exciting news. I pretty much forgot about it until months and months later.

My sister, Phaedra, texted me the following January or February and told me “It’s a boy!” “Are you getting a dog?” I responded. Apparently, I was the only one who didn’t know she was pregnant, very possible since I was in the middle of Westside Soap Opera. However, I am pretty confident that there was no one more excited for this little boy to get here than me (besides, his parents). Like my brother's girlfriend, Phae also had to highlight her dark blonde hair.

Everyone was hoping that Jake would be born on the 4th of July. I thought it would be cool but at the same time I thought that he wouldn’t be the only one with that birthday. But he didn’t come on the 4th or 5th or 6th. Jacob decided to make his debut on Earth in the early morning of July 7th, 2007 (777!!). I pushed for him to be called Lucky but no one would have it. (However, I call him Lucky.) Hours after I got the phone call that the baby was born, I got a picture message of him and from then on this boy was the coolest boy I would ever know. I am pretty sure that I didn’t know what his name was until later on that day (I could be wrong) but as soon as I learned his name, I loved it.

I met him the next day and I loved him from the start. From that moment I found it hard to separate times when Jacob wasn’t around. I know that he wasn’t alive when I was fourteen but I find it next to impossible to think there was a time when I didn’t know him. It’s odd when you think about it. In 24 hours, I went from not knowing him at all to loving this little guy more than I love The Beatles (that’s a big deal). I find I am just telling you the story of Jacob and not why I am grateful for him.

As I said earlier, Jacob came just when the world needed him. By the world, I really mean me (but the world is lucky to have him). I was in the middle of a funk when he arrived and if anything or anyone pulled me out of it, it was Jacob. Honestly, I didn’t think he was that cool until he was like 9 months old. I can say that because I think he is the most awesome person in the world now. He didn’t even really do anything. But Jacob brought back a joy and optimism to me when they were missing my life. He is funny! Sometimes the things that he comes up with are just too hysterical. The sense of wonder that Jacob has for the world just makes me smile. He wants to know everything there is to know about anything and he doesn’t take "because" for an answer so he definitely assists me with gaining patience with things I would be impatient about with other people. For that I am grateful (I am sure the people around me are grateful for that too). I can go on and on about the reasons why I am grateful for but I’ll just give you a simple sentence. I am grateful for Jacob because his existence makes me want to be a better person in order to make his world is a better place.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday!

It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment.   Naomi Williams, Body, Mind and Spirit

Another week has gone by (and it was a rather interesting one) and the winners of the What is Autumn Grateful For This Week Contest are...

Living Pieces of History - For some of you The Beatles are no big deal.  For this writer, there happens to be no bigger deal than The Beatles.  So when I meet people from Beatle history it sends me into a crazy cool excitement that can't muster anything else out of my mouth besides a 'thank you.'   It has happened a few times.  I've met John Lennon's half-sister, Julia, who is absolutely amazing (and I did say more than thank you to her because the shock wore off).  At BEATexpo last November, I met Sid Bernstein who is credited with bringing The Beatles to America (which proved very influential to my non-existent life).  And most recently, I met Joe Flannery.  He was a guest lecturer in my class on Monday night. I did not know he was going to be in that night and I was running late and a mess.  I get into the classroom and Flannery is sitting there in a suit.  Whateves.   It took a while for it to kick in, but the moment Lennon's name came out of Flannery's mouth, I was in awe.  The story that he told brought tears to my eyes (it wasn't sad, I am just a dork).  I am grateful for the opportunity to have met him (I did tell him thank you too) and more importantly that he tells his story to a select few and he tells the truth as best as he knows it.  There are some things that he said that I wasn't really in a rush to agree to, but he also told light-hearted fun stories of The Beatles and of Brian Epstein from before The Beatles existed.  The man is 81 years old.  Just think of all of the life he lived without the famous people in it.  There is nothing more entertaining or educational than sitting at the feet of an elder.  This elder just happens to have the keys to a past that I am insanely interested in.  Think about it, he was around before George Martin or Ringo were around! I couldn't get over how lucky I was to be there.  

My Past -  I will not be too long on this section as I will end up sounding more bitter than thankful. While I was in class last week, I found myself thinking about a big person in my past. This time of year always does it to me. But when I think to every last detail of how I ended up here. It's almost creepy how I wouldn't be here if he wasn't a part of my life for the time he was a part of it.  Regarding the fact that I am here, I am thankful for knowing him. I will end it here as I feel a bitter bile taste rising in my throat. (Is bile the right term?) 

Looking On the Bright Side / Remaining Calm in a Crisis (or something that resembles one) -  My old roommate told me this all of the time.  I just laughed at her because I think it's stupid to panic because then you make silly decisions, or none at all (which could be worse).  I remember one time when she was having a gall bladder attack and literally fell into my room one night.  She asked me to take her to the hospital.  I got changed and we left.  I stopped at red lights, looked and drove through if I was able to go through safely.  But I did not panic as she was screaming and punching my poor dashboard. This ability I would never imagine I would be grateful for! Yesterday, I proved myself wrong.  I dropped my phone getting out of a taxi yesterday.  I realized it soon after but the cab was long gone and so was my phone.  My friends dialed and dialed.  I called the taxi company who were totally not kind to me, left texts on my phone asking and telling the person that I will reward them (with what?) if they return my phone.  But nothing. But I didn't freak out.  I didn't go out and buy a new phone (it crossed my mind though).  I just tried my best to figure out a way to swindle a new phone out of Orange the least expensive way.  Although, I was bummed out about it, I didn't focus on it.  I watched funny videos on YouTube, talked to Krissy and Katie for years, and did other things besides dwell on what happened.   In fact, I focused on what could be worse!  I said to myself, "Aud, you didn't lose your money, your American phone, or your passport." and "You weren't robbed. You're healthy (within reason). You didn't die and all of your family is alive and well." I told myself it would be fine to sulk about it but there are a billion other things to be happy about- so that is what I focused on.  I went to bed early but I went to bed happy. 

The Italian Liverpudlian -  He brought back my phone!  Shani named him Mario, we can refer to him as that from now on.  He called Tasha and Shani this afternoon and said that he had my phone.  Why did it take him nearly 24 hours to hand it over I don't know.  I checked the usage and nothing was used. He might have liked my cool owl case and debated whether or not to keep it for that reason.  He met us at The Adelphi (how ironic for those of you who know me in real life).  Approached us with the phone (and my owl case) and I said thank you a zillion times over. I gave him a tenner, which I am shocked he took.  But he could have gotten way more than that in a store. Maybe he tried to do that in the 24 hours that he had with it. I don't know.  He told me where he found it and it's right where a man and his pit bull cut me off. I was so amazed that the dog was allowed on the bus that I watched the bus drive away.  I don't know how I didn't hear my phone fall but that doesn't matter. It's back. To you, Universe, I give thanks for Mario!

The girl in 1E, Tasha -  is the first flatmate I met on move in day.  I think right from the start we got on very well.  I am grateful for her for many reasons but the biggest one that sticks out is that she is a vegetarian. So she knows every kind of meat she doesn't want to have. I told her about my awesome red meat allergy and now she checks things out for me when I am unsure stuff.  It is also helpful because for once I am not the only person who needs to be complicated when it comes to finding places to eat.  Great joy! 

Tasha was also the first one of my friends to pick up their phone and call my lost iPhone (my phone's name is Theodore, btw). She also left a message. That part is entertaining because Mario didn't check one voicemail.  Tasha is always the one to help me sort out British things that I don't understand and the first one to offer constructive ideas and imput for other UK related issues. When Mario called her this morning to tell her that Theodore was found, I think she was more excited than I was!  She is also a quick thinker!  She left Mario a voicemail and told him he could also return my phone to campus security. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF THAT! So for Tasha's quick thinking, problem solving ability, consideration, and eating habits... and just for being her, I find myself grateful for this week. 

What are you wonderful people thankful for this week?