“That’s a Good Pick Up Line, Isn’t It?” And Other Things I’m Grateful For

Sometimes it’s hard to be grateful. It just is. Even when we know we have a lot to be grateful/thankful for. But other times it’s easy, incredibly easy – and that’s probably something I should be grateful for, too. So in no particular order, and because it’s the season, here are twelve things I am grateful for (because you know, the twelve days of Christmas and all that. Or really, because I just like that number):

1. I am grateful that I have a 14 year old son who willingly hangs out with my friend’s 5 year old so she and I can have a peaceful dinner
2. I am grateful I have an 11 year old who makes me laugh with his imagination. My two favorite quotes from him this week were:
   1. (singing) “He knows if you been bad or good” (pause) “well, let’s just not think about that”
   2. (eyeing a biscuit that kind of unfolded as it cooked and so looked like it had two arms) “I’d hug you but you’re too hot.” Then to me, “Hey Mom, that’s a good pick up line isn’t it?”
3. I am grateful that I have a husband who I can still imagine growing old with (hey, we’re still young (ish))
4. I am grateful for being back in California and close to family and for friends with whom distance does not matter
5. I am grateful for the wild turkeys around here, because there is nothing like a flock of wild turkeys to remind you how lucky you are to have a brain
6. I am grateful for the rain, because it’s California and to not be thankful for the rain could get you kicked out
7. I am grateful for all the characters in my books because they let me live out a fantasy life without causing too much harm in my real life
8. I am grateful for my trainer, oh wait, no I’m not (okay, I am, but don’t tell her because I won’t be able to walk for a week after she hears)
9. I am grateful for all the people I work with because somehow, someone managed to gather a group of people with the same, somewhat twisted sense of humor, and throw us all together
10. I am grateful for books, books, and more books
11. I am grateful for wine, wine, and more wine
12. I am grateful that I have the life I do that makes writing this list easy

Happy Holidays everyone.