It’s been three years. Nov. 29 was the third anniversary of the separation, but my marriage really ended several months before that, and badly.

I would not be where I am today without my son, Erick, and a special groups of friends who have been with me through this journey.

At the time of the separation, I did not know where to turn at that time, but I took a lesson from one of my sisters and kept communication open with a select group of friends. It has made a great difference.

We have needed a great deal of help, and most of it has come from an amazing group of friends. Some I have known since childhood. Others came later, but have made no less impact. Some have been through divorces themselves. Others are current and former coworkers. And more come from the sorority I joined in college and the affiliated fraternity.

Three of these friends have been with us since the start of the journey, and literally their help and support has been immeasurable. One friend has become important in my life recently, in ways that lift me and spark my imagination. All of these friends have provided me with help so we never had to stay in a shelter, helped me with rides to work or to the bus stops, and most importantly, they have shared this journey with me by listening, and in some cases, sharing their own experiences and journeys.

And I am blessed to have a person in administration at my day job who is my guardian angel. I don’t see her often, but every couple of years, she helps me into a better place. She helped me get a full-time job, and then to a placement I love. She shares a name with an Irish saint, and she has been my angel. I must also thank my supervisor at work, who, with my guardian angel, made everything possible.

I struggled with wanting to name them all, and surrendered when I realized many share first names. (My adopted mother was in the minority when she named me.) I imagine getting all of these special people together in one room. Many of them already know some of the others, but as they come from so many places and times in my life, they do not all know one another. It would be amazing to have a gratitude party in their honor. Perhaps someday I will.

To all my friends, I wish a very Merry Christmas.