I'm thankful for all the usual things, I suppose--for my family, for my friends, that I have a nice home and enough to eat, and a job. Oh, wait, I don't have a job. I guess, then, that I'm grateful that not having a job isn't a major problem in my life at the moment, except where my ego is concerned . . .

I'm thankful for the cats--they keep us amused and interested and happy, and they're wonderful to cuddle with on cold nights.

I'm thankful that my whole family was together today, and that we had a good time, laughing and joking.

I'm thankful that I got to see my father made weak by laughter, telling a joke that he was almost unable to get out for laughing. Something I don't remember ever seeing before, and that made the rest of us weak with laughter, too. And by the time he got it all out, it wasn't even all that funny, which made the experience that much happier, really.

I'm thankful that my mother still cooks Thanksgiving dinner, even though I probably should, by rights, take over that responsibility. I'm thankful that she still wants to.

I'm thankful for wonderful friends who listen with compassion and understanding, and don't judge me.

I'm thankful for this forum in which I can express myself both personally and creatively.

I'm thankful that I can afford to buy small, silly little treats for myself and don't have to explain them to anyone. I'm thankful that I can afford to pay for my two major indulgences--books and candles, and that they still give me so much pleasure.

I'm thankful that Barb convinced me to get a hairwrap in Florida last week, even though I cut it off tonight, because my nieces thought I was cool this morning.

I'm thankful for my Grumpy sweatshirt.

I'm thankful that my creative juices were flowing tonight, and I wrote and worked until amost 3:00 a.m., and although the results will almost certainly never be published in a public forum, it felt good, and it made me happy.

I'm thankful for my healthy body, my strong mind, and my happy heart--in spite of worries and problems, I have a pretty amazing life.

Copyright © 1999 Willa G. Cline