Thankful

I'm thankful for my family, and the fact that my parents are still alive and together.

I'm thankful for my friends, who have gotten me through some tough and some tremendous times.

I'm thankful for my cheeky chinchilla, Meguilla, and my terrific tortie cat, Preeti, and the love, however furry, they give me.

I'm thankful for my health.  It's all too easy to take one's health for granted, but more and more I note how lucky I've been to avoid major medical issues.  Thus far.

I'm thankful for the comfortably-sized roof over my head, and the job that both allows me to afford it (and food, and heat) and provides me with challenges and opportunities.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to teach, and to learn from, my fellow humans.

I'm thankful for my artistic abilities and the outlet they provide me to vent some emotional steam, and for people who read my writing and listen to my music, like "Christmas Lonely" (OK, one little shameless plug... ;)

I'm not exactly happy these days, though I try to find a little happy here and there when I can.  I'm thankful for what I have had, and for what I have now.  I know that I could (and did) have more... but I also know that I could have so much less.

Happy Thanksgiving... and even if you're not an American, take a moment to appreciate what you've got.  As the song says, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone."