Thursday Thirteen, Thanksgiving Style!

Yes, it's Thanksgiving, and it seems apt to list the things for which I am thankful, especially on this day. And as I sit here, already mentally putting together my list, it strikes me that I so often whine, complain, feel put upon, and am generally depressed; focusing on what I'm truly, truly thankful for seems therapeutic, something I should do more frequently. So here goes. . .

1. My brothers: I cannot imagine my life or even myself without Jake and John. They, probably more than anyone else, have taught me to see life from a variety of perspectives. By simply being who they are, they've helped me to think in new ways. And I'm convinced that without the two of them, I'd be a different, less happy, less interesting person.

2. My parents: I guess they aren't prefect, but they are pretty darn great, as far as mothers and fathers go. I'm convinced that I'm annoying and demanding of attention as a daughter, even as an adult. And yet, they never treat me like I'm all those things. And I miss them and all my family today, because even more so than Christmas, Thanksgiving, when I was a child, was a the time that we spent together as an extended family.

3. My extended family: This one's huge. First, I'm thankful that I've been blessed with wonderful, interesting, supportive grandparents. I'm thankful that, even at 32, all my grandparents are still alive and are a part of my life. Even now, when I phone my grandfather, he makes me feel like the most wonderful, important person in the world. I'm also thankful, especially today, for my cousins J. and M. Thanksgiving was always a time that I spent with them, sometimes, as we got older, the only time of year that I could count on spending with them. And I have all these great memories associated with J. and M. and Thanksgiving, all kinds of inside jokes. And I miss them especially today.

4. Guinnie and Polly: I'd be so, so, so lonely without dogs to come home to. I'm convinced that a dog's love may be the only truly unconditional love that we experience. And in humans, a doggy love would seem kinda pathetic, maybe even neurotic. But it dogs it's just delightful.

5. Literacy: Seriously, I'm daily, daily thankful for the ability to read and write. I cannot imagine existence without reading.

6. Friends: I'm thinking here of all of you whom I can call for no reason at all. And you know who you are. I'm thinking of the kinds of friends that I might not talk with for months, and yet we can always pick right up where we left off. I'm thinking of the kinds of friends who've seen me at my worst and love me anyway, probably see good in me anyway.

7. Creativity: Maybe "creativity" isn't the best term for what I mean, but I don't know what else to term it. I'm thankful for imagination, the ability to create and engage in creative activities. When I'm really down, this is one thing that makes me feel half-human again.

8. Food: Is it bad that food is something I'm thankful for? I don't just mean that, unlike so much of the world, I have enough to eat. I mean that I'm really thankful that I can think about food and plan meals and cook and enjoy eating and sharing food with friends. And, yes, I do have the whole emotional eating problem; there's no doubt about it. Food becomes a solace when I'm anxious or lonely. And this, I know, isn't so healthy. But in a way that I'm totally OK with, food is this fabulous, interesting part of life.

9. A House: Yes, I'm thankful to have shelter. But I have more than just shelter in mind here. I'm thankful for a warm, cozy house that feels like home. Living in my own house, rather than a rental, feels so grown up. And it's not a huge home, but it's absolutely perfect for me. As Goldilocks would say, it's just right.

10. Being born in the United States: It feels somehow cheezy to say it. But I'm thankful to have been born into a society where women have options and freedoms not afforded them elsewhere. I would say that I'm not a particularly patriotic person, but I am thankful for all the privileges that I enjoy, simply by virtue of having been born into a particular place at a particular time.

11. My job: I know, I often complain about it. And my complaints are mostly about my salary. But the job itself, what I do each day is wonderful and fulfilling and what I believe I am meant to be doing, at least for now.

12. Health: I'm thankful for my physical and emotional health. And although I have occasional, minor health problems--depression, allergies, migraines--I'm generally healthy. Health seems to me to be something that we take for granted until we are laid up by the flu (or something worse!) for 48 hours, or so, and then, suddenly, we realize the miracle of health.

13. Boots!: Ok, in the grand scheme of things, I know that footwear isn't maybe such a big deal, unless one doesn't have footwear. But I just love, love, love boots. And when I wear them, they truly bring me great satisfaction and even joy.

I could add to this list, surely. And I should state that these are in no particular order, so don't be offended if you are a friend and you were listed after the dogs and literacy.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good night!