I found a tribe.   They are quirky, blue monkeys in a brown monkey world.  This would be their chosen birthday cake.

So many are living my dream.  A dream of writing and publishing a book.  The most recent was LaDonna Cole.  Tornados play a prominent role in her book, “Torn”.  She sent me this.

Clutching the book to my heart as her heartfelt, handwritten dedication took root, I stood crying in my kitchen.  I was so proud.  So proud because I knew some of the tornadoes she braved to bring the book to life.  My heart swelled too because I know her.  I really know her.  Though I have only met her twice,  I’m in her tribe and she is in mine.

Today there was an oddly shaped package in the pile of online purchased holiday surprises.  Sent by Stephanie Pazicni Karfelt, author of WOA, Warrior of the Ages. 

I clutched this package to my heart too.  For it spoke to my deepest desire and made me giggle.  The contents are a silly, awesome, quirky addition which will surprise and delight all my family.  She sent it, priority mail, because I am in her tribe and she is in mine.  We’ve only met twice.

Most of my life I have felt like an orphan.  To be sure I was blessed with a mother and father, yet I remained rootless in my heart.  Restlessness was a paper cut to my heart, shallow enough not to be lethal, deep enough to hurt.

Quietly, surprisingly, I have found a tribe of my own.  They are authors, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers.  Not all are published, still many are writers.  Some are older, wiser mensches whose pearls of wisdom are precious.  Some are my age, old enough to know better and young enough to sometimes not care.  I could be the mother of one, and she never reminds me.  Not all are writing, they, like me, have worthy causes which pull them from their words. Yet they find moments to text or FB or to send silly surprises.

Tonight I am thankful for this wordy tribe who has found me.  I can rest my tired heart on their shoulders and wrap my hopes around their successes.  They make me feel less like an orphan and more like a whole person who can live abundantly.

I’m thankful you are in my virtual tribe by reading this blog.  Who is in your tribe? I’d like to know.