Gratitude overflows with "L."

At the risk of being predictable and trite, I'm going to do it... my deepest gratitude belongs to the letter "l" for love. 

It is one of the most fundamental human needs and something that is felt universally across cultures and without bounds.  There's a reason that scores of poems, songs, books, movies, paintings and all other manner of artistic (and not-so-artistic endeavours) are all devoted to this very subject.  A quick Google search has yielded "About 8,300,000,000 results."

I won't pretend to be able to be eloquent and describe all the various forms of love that exist in the universe, nor those which are in my life.  It is simply there, manifest in my daily life in innumerable ways.  It’s there in so many ways, that sometimes I don't even see or realise it is there.  

I have been incredibly fortunate, in my short thirty-some-odd journeys around the sun to have been loved and have had the opportunity to give love to some amazing, wonderful, incredible people.

I wish I could say that in the pursuit of love and being loved, I have been entirely faultless, but that would be a complete and utter lie – I’m truly beyond sorry if you have ever been on the receiving end of one of my poorly judged or misguided attempts… 

I have always loved deeply, passionately and without reservation.  This has gone a bit wrong on me by times and I’ve stumbled here and there, sometimes I’ve even fallen flat on my backside… but who hasn’t been there?  I will continue to love like crazy – even if it’s not always reciprocated – I will continue to love living; love my beautiful family; love my amazing friends; love nature; love making mistakes; love learning; love laughing and love loving.  

Love and light to you and yours. x

Don't Stop Believin'

It has been a long time since there has been a feel-good show on TV… It’s a show that I look forward to every week, not because it’s emotional or dramatic, but because it makes me happy. I enjoy it so much, that I watch it on a Friday evening, and then try to catch it again during the replay on another channel on the following Wednesday. Yes, I am talking about the television musical phenomenon, Glee.

I love it. It makes me laugh – big belly laughs… I giggle (often at inappropriate moments) when I think of Sue Sylvester and her love of the tracksuit and distaste of Will Shuester’s curly blond locks. Much to Phill’s chagrin, I listen to the soundtrack on nearly full volume as I drive and sing along just as loudly (and sometimes somewhat tunelessly.)

Faiza and I watched all the Glee episodes from the first season over the Christmas holidays when I was home. It was perfect. I loved hanging out and just being with her. It’s one of the aspects of our friendship that I miss the most when I’m in New Zealand. It was different this time though – not only did we hang out, just as we used to, but it was hanging out as adults, in a wholly different phase of our lives (meaning, we weren’t hanging out in one of our parents’ basements.) It was more than watching TV. We talked. About wholly different stuff than what we used to talk about. It was the first time we’ve that opportunity in seven years. It was amazing.

I also love Glee because it reminds me of my high school choir days… and I can’t remember my high school choir days without remembering Faiza… this inevitably leads to a warm fuzzy feeling enveloping my heart and a smile that stretches from ear to ear. It leads me to think of the ridiculous fun times we’ve had in the past doing everything and nothing at all. I love you, Faiza Zarin Kanji (even if you did get me kicked out of choir… it was totally worth it.)

'M' is for Mail!

Everyone enjoys a bit of snail mail.  I've always sporadically written and received letters from cousins and friends around the world.

The thing is, it's easy to forget how fabulous it is to get mail, because it just doesn't come as often as it once used to.  In today's day and age of instant gratification (I am no exception - I want it and I want it yesterday, thanks) the anticipation and excitement of opening a letter is palpable when I'm holding it in my hands.  I sometimes get the urge to do a little happy dance.  First,  I examine it to see who it's from and run my eyes over the envelope, next I devour the words within to unlock their magic and feel that special connection with someone else who has taken the time to sit down and write to me.  I can't help but to feel so special!

My very first letter writing friend was Karine... no one forgets their first.

I met Karine nearly 20 years ago (holy crap!) at a weekend yearbook publishers' conference.  We got on famously from the moment we met and we decided to keep in touch... there was no email, msn or Facebook way back then. We wrote letters back and forth for many years.  First we wrote within Ontario, and then Nova Scotia-Toronto... then I ended up in Halifax for university, where she already was.  That signaled the death knell of our love affair with the letter.  I got an email address when I got to uni, and that's how we stayed in touch.  I think there was the odd letter here and there after that, but never as consistent as it once was.  We also spent quite a while in the same cities (Halifax, and then Toronto) so we just picked up the phone for a chat.  The instant gratification of a phone chat appeals to my impatient nature... so the letter writing fell by the by.  I'm going to write Karine a letter tonight.

So now, I'm addicted once again - but like I never have been before!  I've started writing letters, cards, sending bits in the post, getting packages and I'm loving it!

Incoming (over the past couple of months):

I got this beautiful card from Sasha.  The photo on the front is a photo from her Mum's garden - it reminded her of the Koru (aka Fiddle heads); her trip to New Zealand, and naturally, of me.  She sent it before I went home for Dad's funeral, but I got it when I came back to Auckland, from Canada.  It was lovely to have this here, with a gorgeous message inside, waiting for me. 

The most recent, wonderful card from wonderful Faiza.  Sent to give me love and strength to help me through when I'm feeling blue.  I am so blessed to get so much mail from her.  I love her. 

This was my very first swap item - A mixed CD from Tillie.  I really, really heart it!  I tried to upload a photo of the postcard she sent me after she received my CD, but it won't work... rest assured, it is a great postcard.

The most fantastic, awesome, fun package EVER!  Megan from Time After Tea sent me this package as part of Passion's New Friend Swap.  I got it after being off school, sick for a day and a half - what a lovely treat to come back to!! I whipped the tag off the bracelet as soon as I opened it at work and popped it on my wrist.  She wrote the sweetest card to go with it... and how cute are these toasty warm socks??  Thanks to Passion who organised this swap and who gave me an amazing partner!

I got this package as part of Tillie's Simply Delightful Package Swap.  It came all the way from Indonesia - I loved that!  You can't tell, but under the key chain, is a tubular shawl.  It's really quite neat, but I'm still trying to figure out how to make it look normal on me.  I also got a really cute belt with a bow on it - it's upstairs, hanging on my mirror, helping to keep me motivated and on track with my exercising.  Thank you, Tillie for such a fun idea and for being my first swapping partner!

Outgoing (again, over the past couple of months):

My partner for Tillie's Simply Delightful Swap was her very own pen pal in Australia.  We had to send three of our favourite things, so I sent her an journal which was made from 100% recycled products and it was made in Canada; some of my favourite note cards and post cards; inspirational and pretty magnets (our fridge is covered with magnets) and some stickers with some lovely quotes.   I hope she liked it - I had a lot of fun picking out what to send her.

LeeAnn is a postcard enthusiast - I got the odd postcard from L when she was in Nova Scotia and I had moved back to Toronto... and then when we both moved overseas, the postcard trend continued... a quick note scribbled back and forth, but nothing meaty.  I've decided to start writing L meaty mail.  I really enjoyed using my new stencils to decorate her envelope... I went for a summer and beach theme for the back of the envie because it's cold here right now and I've got the heater going on full!

Faiza often sends me the most wonderful and lovely cards.  I feel as though I let her down on this end, but I realise that posting is a passion of hers and I've got a way to go yet, but  I'm working on catching up and sending her my belated share of postal love!  Once again, I have a lot of love for my new stencils.  Faiza loves flowers, and I thought that since I didn't send her fresh flowers for her birthday, I'd decorate her envie with some pretty flora. 

I've recently started following Tillie's blog - I participated in her package swap and I swapped mixed CDs with her.  I thought I'd drop a note in the post for her (well, it'll be dropped in the post tomorrow, when I go to the post office!)

Tillie mentioned that it was her mum's birthday recently and she was getting a kick out of all the mail Tillie was getting, so she thought it'd be great if her mum got some mail.  Here's my belated effort (I sealed the envelope before I took the photos... but trust me, the inside is pretty.)

Last but definitely not least, my second letter to Megan (after her swap package... I won't post a picture of it, because I'm not sure if she's received it yet.)  She and Faiza also send letters back and forth, so I knew of her.  I'm so pleased that I'm now getting to know her!  I decorated it with stars because the first time I read her surname, I read it very quickly and I thought it said "Sparkle" and I thought it was the most awesome name ever!  So now, every time I see her name, I think of sparkling and stars.  I haven't told her this bit of cheesy dorkiness (yet somehow, I think it's okay to broadcast my nerdiness it on the internet.) 

I'm off, to write some more letters!

A random list of gratitude.

I'm home.
I feel sick, mostly awful and I want my mum.
I need to make a conscious effort appreciate the good stuff today.

So here is a list of 20 things I've come up with (in no particular order):

1. Sunny and warm winter days
2. Lovely students who tell me that I should be at home resting
3. Lovely co-teachers that send me home to feel better
4. Awesome, caring and thoughtful friends all around the world
5. Hot chocolate

6. 8 followers + 2 rss feeds = 10 readers on my blog.  Double digits baby!
7. A wonderful phone call from yesterday from Tasha that is still making me smile
8. Mum
9. Daytime TV tag lines: "Mum, why won't you top inhaling butane gas?"
10. Allan's appreciation when I gave him the blanket I made for baby Marcus
11. A wonderful, loving and patient husband
12. Aliya + Hussein are married!
13. The All-Whites' awesome draw against Italy - Italy has the talent, but the Kiwis have the heart!

14. Extra-large tissues with aloe and lotion
15. Fuzzy warm track pants and hoodies
16. Chicken noodle soup

17. Getting mail
18. The gorgeous condolence letter I got from two boys that were in my class a couple of years ago
19. 32 Father's Days to appreciate Dad + 1 to remember him
20. Navaz, Shazen, Noah & Maya
21. The Coupers (which includes a former Wheeler)
22. Sleeping off a cold

Look at that.  I made it to 22 things.  I'm off to sleep (and yes, I feel a little better.)

Oooh! Oooh! Pick me!

Faced with work or blogging, I clearly chose the more interesting option... since running around and playing tag is far to0 strenuous and I'd rather not work up a sweat right now, I'll play blog tag! Woot! Faiza tagged me on her blog... so...

Step one - Faiza was tagged here.

Step two - I was tagged here.
Step three - Now is the fun bit. I'll answer Faiza's five questions and then in return I get to ask five of my own to those who I tag.
Step four - If you get tagged you do the following (please):

• Answer my five questions on your blog in the form of a post.
• Ask 5 questions of your own.
• Tag some people. As many or as few as you want.
• Leave a comment when you're done so I can go see your answers.

So Faiza's questions are below (with my answers of course.)

1. What is your favorite topping on toast?
It varies depending on if it is a school day, since I have students in my class who are allergic to nuts. If it is a weekend, I love a peanut butter and banana sandwich. On weekdays, I enjoy a bit of butter and homemade jam to dunk my toast in tea. Yum! I should have had that for dinner tonight!

2. What is your favorite quote from someone else?

There are far too many to pick from. Most recently I heard this one (while on a plane bound for New Zealand) and it made me laugh out loud and snort my water through my nose.
"The future is like a Japanese game show. You have no idea what's going on!" Tracy Jordan - 30 Rock.

3. You are about to throw a penny into a wishing well...what do you wish for?
A(n affordable, reusable) teleporter so I can visit home as often as possible.

4. Tell me what your favorite song is and why.
So many great songs to select from... I Hope You Dance is particularly dear to my heart for a number of reasons. The message itself is beautiful; Faiza sang it for me at our wedding reception; finally, I use it every year in my slide show for my graduating students (as my personal message for them... one mum said that her son loves that song now because it means so much to him. That makes my heart smile.) It also helps to remind me of some very important things whenever I need a nudge back on track.

5. What three things are you grateful for today?
A wonderful winter's weekend spent with Phill's family (Nana, brother, sister-in-law, cousins, aunties and uncles); being home, safe, after a long drive; a hot cup of tea Phill just made for me and put beside me (and the biscuits I'm going to go find to dunk in them.)

Okay - my questions for the lovely tag-ees are: (I wanted 6 questions... I'm all about flexibility and spontaneity, you know.)

1. What's your favourite thing about winter? (since I'm feeling a bit cold and need some winter-lovin' and appreciation right now!)


2. Best comfort food on a rainy day? (Yes, still cold.)


3. Why do you blog?


4. What is something you always grumble about, but secretly enjoy?


5. What is something you've done that you're really proud of yourself for?


6. Something that always brings a smile to your face, no matter what is...

I only know of a few people who read this blog, so, aside from Faiza and Sheba who have already been tagged, I'm tagging: Exciting Elena, Caring Katy, Amazing Alison and Marvellous Megan. No pressure if this isn't your thing - but a bit of fun if you're keen. If you're some other lovely person who happens to stumble upon this blog and want to play - you're tagged too!

Blessings

In times of sorrow, it is amazing the abundance of blessings that surround us.

I am sad.  There's no real way around it... Like the mountain - can't go over it, can't go under it and again, I certainly can't go around it (but I'm working on getting through it.)

But in the haze of tears (and there have been and will be many) I feel so incredibly fortunate and blessed.

Sometimes, I feel so consumed by anger and grief that it's hard to see my way through it.  So to help clear my vision I count my blessings for my friends who held me up when I didn't think I could stand (they are still holding me up... and I imagine they will continue to do so for a while yet.) 

I say a prayer of thanks for my friends; my friends' parents and our family that are watching out for Mum... it makes me breathe slightly easier since I'm not there.  And although my heart feels a bit broken and a sort of full all at once, I thank my colleagues for their help and the families at school for their love and understanding.  I can't even express how grateful I am for Phill, so I'm not going to even try.  Same goes for Faiza.  And... And... And... The list could go on and on and on...  So far, I do this little exercise every night.  It helps. 

I was feeling particularly blue last week... Then I was assailed with tokens of love (I dismantled and ate the beautiful gift basket, but below are photos of some of the wonderful pick me ups I received.)  There are beautiful and thoughtful cards sprinkled throughout the house and flowers in my classroom that are not shown below, but well appreciated nonetheless.

After a few days back... this was handed to me one morning.

These flowers greeted me on Tuesday after work, with a lovely card from the school.

I got these ones on Friday from a family in the Montessori Unit - hand delivered, along with a few big hugs. 

This brought a tear to my eye but a smile to my heart.  What beautiful children.  I'm going to frame this one.

Just lucky and thankful to be so loved.

Swaps

I need a little something to lift my spirits, so I've decided to take a leaf from Faiza's book and I'm going to participate in the swaps that she posted on her blog. 

Check them out - they look like a bit of fun.  Just writing about them, reading through the swaps and doing my bio has perked me up already - imagine how happy I'll be when I get my package in the post!

"Life without friendship, is like the sky without the sun."

Passion's New Friend Swap

This looks like something that could bring a smile to even the most sour puss.  You write a small bio, and send it in by the 26th of May.  Just follow the instructions on Passion's blog and you're off to the races!  I've found it a bit of a challenge to write a bio about myself, but I'm really excited to get a package in the post from a new friend!

Go Ahead... Make My Day.  
 

Then there's The Simply Delightful Package Swap. If that name isn't enough to convince me that it's going to be fabulous, the above graphic completely won me over.  This one is easy peasy - send in your interest and Tillie will email you a short questionnaire to answer and again - you're off to the races.  The deadline for this one is the 31st of May. 

Both of these swaps are international, so there are no geographical restrictions or limits. 

Thank you, Faiza for posting these on your blog!  I can't wait to give it a go.

Oh yay! Hooray! Today is my Faiza's birthday!

There's a girl named Faiza that I really adore

She's not only my friend, she's much, much more

I love her heaps and miss her a ton

We laugh, we giggle and generally have fun

Her friendship to me is beyond worth

And I'd really like to be with her today to celebrate her birth

Happy birthday to my dearest friend...

Your friendship is a gift that God did send.

 

  I know... "Groan!"  (But you know I love it!)

 

One dimensional?

"One thing that never ceases to amaze me, along with the growth of vegetation from the earth and of hair from the head, is the growth of understanding." -  Alice Walker

The thing I love about blogging (so far) is that it gives an opportunity to evolve and grow in whatever way I choose.  This posting did not start off as a submission for my Alphabet, but there we go... here's 'e.'  (I find myself quite tickled about how things just happen... er... evolve even?  )

Through this little personal project, I've had to make a conscious decision to be grateful and to recognise the things I am grateful for... and I did stop writing for a bit, not only because I went travelling, but because I wasn't inspired.  That's not to say that there was nothing I was grateful for, but I suppose I was looking for those 'a-ha' moments... the round-about or clever ways to make my gratitude fit within the alphabet framework I gave myself.  I lost sight of the simple things that inspired me in the first place. 

The title of this comic is "Simple Pleasures." I love it. 

(Warning: There are some offensive words on the website this comic came from.) 

I feel as though I started this with one end point in mind, but through reading other fantastic blogs (mostly linked off of Faiza's blog - definitely a happy place and worth looking at) and then trolling through other blogs I've stumbled upon,  I have rediscovered my wide range of interests.  Then I was left with a bit of a conundrum - when there were other bits that I found interesting or inspiring, I didn't feel as though I could write about it here since it didn't fit in my 'Alphabet of Gratitude' theme.  I started feeling a bit one-dimensional.

It has just occurred to me - I am the one imposing these limits upon myself - no one else.  (Yes, this realisation extends well beyond blogging.)  Whew.  A bit eye-opening, no?

So, my blog is evolving along with me... and I am evolving thanks to my blog.  I will no longer be writing dedicated alphabet posts.  I will not try to fit any self-imposed mold.  If what I choose to write about fits within the alphabet, it will be wirtten about... if not, I will allow myself to be free and do what makes me soul happy. 

I'm still going to try to find something for each letter of the alphabet, but I will not be limited by my own expectations. 

I don't know about you, but I think that this evolution and realisation is definetly something to be grateful for.

Skipping to 'F' because I feel like it!

I'm sitting here on a sunny Sunday afternoon and feeling the tiniest bit melancholy - Phill's sick, I'm just getting over a cold, feeling overwhelmed with housework, planning and marking (which was convienently left at work). 

Faced with the prospect of filling in my Data & Tracking Book and spending a beautiful afternoon doing my planning, I decided to do neither and popped in the video Grant & Jen made of our wedding reception in Canada... since the videographer did SUCH a bang up job and missed songs, dances and inserted Disney graphics, my fantastic brother-in-law and his lovely wife decided that something should be done about it and they made a new video for us.

I find that now, I don't remember a lot of it... but there's a smile creeping up onto my face and lifting this blue funk because although the reception was to celebrate our wedding, it was a lot about friends and family. 

I'm loving all of it - dancing up a storm with Rizwan; Faiza & Naheed singing; Shafik & Aziza dancing - the speeches, the songs, the dances and all throughout the video, hearing Noah exclaiming "Yay!" 

I can hear my closest friends and family talking, laughing and enjoying themselves.  I love it - all of it. 

We had friends and family that travelled across the world, Canada and the GTA to be there and that made every single second of it worthwhile - not to mention the others who aren't with us any longer, or those who wanted to be there and couldn't make it.

I think (without any bias at all) that I am the luckiest girl in the world.

I have some absolutely incredible friends in New Zealand, Canada and scattered in other locations around the globe.  Each and every one of them mean something different to me and I value and treasure every relationship immensely.  So very blessed.  I can't (and don't want to) imagine my life without them.

You know... one of my favourite quotes about family is along these lines "Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts."  Fantastic!  I love my family and I love their nuttiness.  Not just my immediate family, but my 'new' family as well - I am not only a Khamis, Kassam/Dhanidina but now a Couper as well - again - so lucky. 

Then we have my extended family - same as with my friends, I have a different relationship with each of my aunties & uncles and I treasure those individually as well.  I appreciate them all a lot more now that I'm an adult.  On top of that, I have the best group of cousins and we always have an awesome time when we're together.  We're there for each other whenever needed - no questions, no hestiations, no reservations and that's pretty damn amazing. 

All this makes my heart swell up so much, I think I'm going to explode with love and gratitude. 

Noah summed it up in a word: "Yay!" Out of the mouths of babes.

Something a little out character - a letter out of order...

I'm going to do something that goes against my very nature, but this one has been brewing in my mind for the last few weeks and if I don't write it now, it won't be nearly as relevant as it could be.

Over the past couple of months, I have been immensely grateful for reunions. 

Reunions are wonderful, uplifting and just so very fantastic! 

I was recently visiting home for Christmas and I had the most fabulous reunion with my nephew.  I was blessed enough to spend some portion of nearly each day with Noah.  The last few times I've gone home, I've been very apprehensive about seeing him.  I was worried that he wouldn't know me, or he wouldn't like me.  I am happy to report that when I was at home over Christmas, I had an awesome time with Noah, and I have no need to worry about any future reunions because I know he'll remember me.  I also fell head over heels in love with him.  He is a happy, sweet, polite and clever and generally a delightful child.  I'm not saying that because he's my nephew and I'm horribly biased... I genuinely mean it!  It was just fantastic and I had an awesome time. 

Not the most flattering photo of me, but it's okay because I love making this kid laugh!

I also got to have the best reunion yet with my Faiza.  We got to hang out, chat and just 'be.'  We haven't had the chance to do that at all in this phase of our lives and I really missed it.  We also had great fun going to see Jersey Boys, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and trips to Wally's.  I loved every second of my reunion with Faiza.  It was magic and I love her. 

I think this is the first time I've been home and not taken photos of us...

This 'photo' is also relevant in a couple of paragraphs from here... 

When I came back to New Zealand, I had the best reunion of all... Phill was at there waiting for me.  He had taken the day off work, got up at 4 a.m. and took a cab to the airport - just so he could be there when I got back.  Since I wasn't expecting him, I walked right by him (again - just like the last time he surprised me at the airport.)  When I did see him, I vaguely remember launching myelf into his arms and squealing at the top of my lungs.  It was the best thing to come back to and made me SO very happy. 

I love this guy.

The day before school started, I was lucky enough to have a quick reunion with my dear friend LeeAnn.  She came up to Auckland for work and we went out for a lovely dinner, walked along the beach and had a good catch up.  I always look forward to her work visits and our friendship makes me soul happy.  We haven't taken any photos of us together in ages.  That is something that must be remedied next time we're visiting each other!

Finally, I went back to work.  It's always nice to meet up with the people I work with and having a good gab with them is great.  The people I work with are really quite awesome... but my favourite reunion to do with work was having my class back again.  In Montessori, the students stay in a class for a three year cycle.  Due to the way the New Zealand school system works and our wider school going up to year 8, students have the opportunity to stay in the 9-12 class for four years.  I had a few students leave, as they do when they get older and I have now ten children that are new to my class.  Every year, I really look forward to having my kids back again.  I love the relationship I build with my students because I have them for several years at a time... and I get to do that because we get to have our reunion every February.  They are really good kids and yes, they make me crazy at times (as I'm sure they do to their parents too) but I know that I'm lucky to have them. 

I don't feel right putting up photos of children that are not related to me, but rest assured, I have many great photos of them and they are gorgeous. 

How I love a good reunion!!

An Alphabet of Gratitude - 'a'

I've been mulling over this post in my head for the better part of a month. How to lay out my Alphabet of Gratitude, what to say and how to say it. Faced with a number of choices, I did my usual trick of ignoring it all and deciding not to do anything at all. For example, right now, I should be working on my Year Overviews, but I am obviously... not.

Anyhow, I was trying to decide what should be the proper platform for my musings on gratitude. Should it be alphabetical? Should each letter be a post? Will I have enough to say for each post? What will I be thankful for when I get to 'x'? (I've got something in mind, don't worry.)

I haven't got the answers to most of those questions, but as Faiza pointed out to me when I was home, everything doesn't always need an answer or a solution. I'm slowly learning that it's okay not to have an answer and sometimes, it can be kind of fun not to know.

So what spurred me into action? Tyra's 2009 Valentine's Day show (the season is a bit behind in New Zealand.) She was playing matchmaker and all the men were wearing t-shirts that said "Take me I'm your's."

So my Alphabet of Gratitude begins today with the humble letter 'a.' An indefinite article on its own, but it is also the first letter of one of my favourite things - the apostrophe. Today (and every single day), I am thankful for the apostrophe.

My head actually spins when I think of how much I have to say about the apostrophe. What makes me feel marginally better, is that I'm not alone. Once you come out of the I-love-to-use-apostrophes-correctly closet, a lot of other people come out of the woodwork. Other people actually feel as strongly about this as I do. It's reassuring and I feel a certain kinship with them. There is actually an Apostrophe Protection Society (which makes my heart smile) and I am also a fan of Apostrophe Abuse - they have a list of links along the side, which simply proves that I am not alone.

Phill indulges my obsession and bought me the best Chistmas present ever - an illustrated copy of the book, Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. This book is filled with wonderful and funny gems about punctuation, such as "Why did the Apostrophe Protection Society not have a militant wing? Where do you get balaclavas?" The woman is brilliant. Her children's book, The Girl's Like Spaghetti is pure genius.

I'm not sure that everyone understands how passionate I am about the apostrophe. They know, but they don't seem to understand why it is so important to me. I'm not sure I can explain it myself, but I do know that it makes me smile when people properly punctuate a plural possessive... and that, I am grateful for.