Nothing Short of Thankful

It is not every day you turn 35. By my count, this is the only time that I will turn 35. In accordance with the special nature of this occasion, I will now list thirty and five things for which I am thankful (not necessarily in any particular order)...

Brigitte. She is an incredible companion. The perfect partner for a million misadventures. Beautiful, carefree, bold, and much much more. She is teaching me daily. Lately, it seems she is teaching me Spanish!

Oonsk and Ba...AKA Tim and Julie...AKA Mom and Dad. Two of the most exceptional parents on the planet. They have excelled at the most important vocation of parenthood. Whether it has been mom holding my hand en route to the hospital whilst my lungs spasmed during one of my childhood asthma attacks, or dad having "the talk" with me over a Burger King breakfast of french toast sticks, these guys are professionals when it comes to parenting.

My faith. I am thankful that I believe in a God who sacrifices. A God who espouses sword holstering and cheek turning...so thankful for a God who teaches that strength is found in weakness and wisdom is found in foolishness.

The Jacobs and the Buchers. I love the laid back go with the flow nature I have inherited. I also love, as John Reinhard says, "The Bucher Buzz."

Uncle Ardie, Aunt Susie, Uncle Denny, Aunt Laurie and my Pops

Grandma and Grandpa Jacobs

Bucher, Bucher, Bucher...and Bucher, Bucher, Bucher, Bucher, and the newly arrived Bucher. Bucher is the older younger brother with business sense and wisdom beyond his years. Bucher has been the surprising first in almost everything important...matrimony, parenthood, home ownership...what is next? And Bucher is the hardest working person I know. And every other additional Bucher has just added more Buzz to the joy of being Bucher!

 

Bucher, Bucher, Bucher, Bucher, Bucher, Bucher, Bucher, Bucher, Bucher...missing from the picture are Bucher, Bucher (including his bag of Mr. Potato Head hands), and Bucher

The Anderson family. Thanks for your patience with me. You are all good examples of getting things done. Thanks for raising Brigitte so well and teaching her to work so hard...she made excellent fried chicken tonight!

The Cubs. Thank you for losing so much. You have taught me a humility, that so many fans (no names here Josh and Uncle Denny) who have had nothing but success, seem to lack. All the years of losing will only make it more sweet when we finally go all the way.

Pizza. You are so good to me. You come in many sizes...thin crust, deep dish...shapes...squares, triangles...I love all of them. Long live the blessed union of cheese, tomato sauce, and crust.

Books. You have taught and entertained me so much. In the words of my buddy Dylan, "I don't have time for fiction." But in my words, "I don't have time for nonfiction". A special thank you to Annie Dillard, Edward Abbey, Mr. Tolkien and Mr. Lewis!

Colorado. Thank you for being the healthiest state in the nation year after year. You constantly remind me, damn you, that it is not ok to sit and watch tv all day long on a Saturday...and that life is better lived out side! In spite of all the heart ache in the past few years, fires...floods...shootings....there is still no place like home. In the words of the ineffable Renee Belisle (maker of delicious cake pops), "There you go showing off again Colorado!"

Beer. Thank you for your many flavors. Porter, stout, lager, pilsner, pale ale, IPA, reds...blondes-you are all of you good friends.

Purdue. Hoosier by birth...Boilermaker by the grace of God.

Cap Hill Small Group. You know who you are. I love and miss you all! Come visit us!

My pivot bicycle. You are better than I deserve. I am thankful for how you are light enough to go uphill...and burly enough for the moments I sustain the courage to go downhill. I apologize to you for my lack of aggressiveness. 

Chacos. I never knew how much I loved these until recently. They are hanging on by a thread.

Kindle. I did not think we would hit it off. I like the touch of books like Luke and Casey like vinyl records. But here we are in September...and you are absolutely amazing. And old books are free! You make traveling even more wonderful.

The Denver Public Library. Thank you for the whole Game of Thrones series as well as the Carlos Ruiz Zafron books. Here I am in Ecuador checking out books from the Denver Public Library! Increible! (that means incredible in English).

Fall. You are a great season. Thanks for the colors, the chill in the air, and the cider. And football. I will catch you next year!

Coffee. Thanks for just being who you are. You pick me up every morning with a smile. I thank you.

Osprey. You make great bags.

The Avett Brothers. I cannot deny my man crush on Scott Avett. Thanks for singing with such joy.

Singletrack. You make mountain biking worth it. After "mountain biking" in Mexico and in Ecuador, I love and miss you more than ever.

Indiana. Thank you for the Jacobs and the Buchers and for basketball.

Basketball. Thank you for letting me play your game. 5 foot 6 on a good day and slow does not make me very effective...but I love you nonetheless.

Morgan Township. What a great school to grow up going to? Where else could an unathletic sad sack like myself have played a different sport every season?

Dr. Dog. Thank you for your consistency.

Alameda International High School and Jefferson County Public Schools. Thank you for employing me and for having great kids and great teachers. And thank you for leaves of absence!

Other countries (China, India, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Ecuador, Canada...y mas). Thank you for your food, culture, and especially your food. You have taught and continue to teach me that I am not the center of the world because I am from the United States (though sometimes I think I am).

Denver. Thank you for your location and for all of the people that you contain...even those who live in the suburbs...cough Yimmy.

Doc. Thank you for reminding me of how roads are really not that important.

The front porch at the Bucher household. Many a good time you have hosted.

English. Learning a second language is helping me really appreciate how easy it is to speak my first. 

The Navajo Reservation. Thank you for three good years.

Havasu Canyon and all of the waterfalls contained within. I do not think that I can express the joy I experience every time I go here. Specifically when you get behind a waterfall.

The Grand Canyon. I miss you. We shall meet again. That is me riding one of God's water slides.

Thanks to anyone who was foolish enough to read this leviathan. More Ecuador next week!