Counting My Blessings

1. After all these years, Jimmy still makes me laugh. Even though about half the time I want to hit him in the head with a frying pan.
2. God entrusted me with the care of  Jude.
3. I was able to give birth at age 42.
4. Jude is a loving, caring, curious, smart, creative, silly boy, who dearly loves his Mama.
5. Mama and Daddy were loving, caring, curious, smart, creative people who raised me in a home full of love, and encouraged intelligence, independence and silliness.
6. Jimmy's nutty family has taken me in and embraced me as one of their own, despite the fact that I am Southern, very tall, and not Italian.
7. Mommy, Pop and Grace are still with us, healthy and active into their 80's.
8. My sister-in-law Niki, who is the only person who completely understands my feelings about this nutty family we have married into.
9. Health.
10. Strength and resiliency.
11. We're able to make a (sadly modest) living doing something we truly love.
12. A bit of talent.
13. My agents. Many people don't have any, and mine are very supporting and hard-working.
14. The intelligence, creativity and enthusiasm of my sometime writing partner Brian.
15. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
16. St. Jude.
17. My church. It's Catholic. It's liberal. It's an oxymoron.
18. My choir.
19. The gift of voice.
20. We're singing Vivaldi's "Gloria" for Christmas. Crazy good.
21. My friend Lynn.
22. My friend Gwen.
23. My best friend Kaysie, who I've known and loved since we were born.
24. My best friend Sharon, who I've known and loved since 9th Grade.
25. Jude has a group of best friends who make him very happy.
26. The parents of Jude's best friends are terrific! Couldn't ask for better people.
27. Jude says I'm his best friend.
28. My cousins in Texas who I almost never get to see, but love dearly, and I feel a strong bond with.
29. I have an amazing support system of friends who I can count on for anything, and are always there for me. Truly.
30. Jude's school. A safe haven in the heart of a big scary city. Couldn't ask for a better place or a more loving community.
31. The parents at Jude's school. Wonderful, wonderful people.
32. Jude's Cub Scout pack. Another little pocket of wholesome fun in the heart of the crazy city.
33. Reconnecting with my old college friends. Facebook was good for something.
34. After years apart, I have reconnected with my dear old friend Sondee, who during my 20's, was my right arm. It's great to have my arm back.
35. Toontown.
36. My laptop.
37. The internet. Thank you Al Gore.
38. Netflix.
39. Woody Allen.
40. Martin Scorcese.
41. TiVo.
42. The SyFy Channel.
43. Shutterfly.
44. Club Pogo.
45. Fancy. The best dog EVER.
46. Our house. Even though it's tiny and falling down around us, it is charming and we can afford the mortgage.
47. Our funky neighborhood.
48. Great neighbors who watch out for us.
49. My washer and dryer.
50. Speakman Shower Heads.
51. Long hot showers/baths.
52. The free vacuum cleaner I got at BlogHer (see reviews page).
53. Windex.
54. Clorox Clean-Up with Bleach.
55. Knowing not to mix the Windex with the Clorox Clean-Up with Bleach because it creates Mustard Gas.
56. My Keurig coffeemaker.
57. Coffee in general.
58. Venti Nonfat Caramel Macchiatos from Starbucks.
59. California weather.
60. Fresh oranges and tangerines that grow in our yard almost year-round.
61. The smell of orange blossoms that floats on the air at night.
62. The smell of tuberoses.
63. The smell of Shalimar.
64. The smell of cumin.
65. The smell of rain.
66. The smell of Jude.
67. Our mattress's pillowtop.
68. Nyquil.
69. Good hair. 49, and very little gray.
70. Jesse, my hairdresser.
71. My legs, which were always my best feature, are still holding up pretty well.
72. Managing to still look fairly good for a perimenopausal woman.
73. Annemarie Borlind LL Regeneration Creams.
74. Cheap manicures/pedicures.
75. Target.
76. Dawn Direct Foam Dishwashing Liquid
77. Butter.
78. Bacon.
79. Pasta Carbonara.
80. Pasta in general.
81. Garlic.
82. Lemons.
83. Chocolate.
84. Triscuits with Rosemary and Olive Oil.
85. Jan's Brussels Sprouts recipe.
86. Great-grandma Matilda Hansen Hanson's Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe.
87. Wine. Of every kind.
88. Vodka and grapefruit juice. My new favorite cocktail.
89. Bourbon.
90. Pennsylvania Dutch Egg Nog is in season.
91. Christmas music season starts...now.
92. Books. In general.
93. Anne Tyler, Robertson Davies, William Manchester, Toni Morrison, Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Larry McMurtry, Ferrol Sams, Michael Chabon, Harper Lee, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Pat Conroy in particular.
94. Rock and roll.
95. Classic country.
96. This blog. A place to create, to vent, to share.
97. Keely The Unmom, for providing Random Tuesday Thoughts.
98. Jen at Sprite's Keeper for providing the Spin Cycle, which is sadly taking a hiatus.
99. The friends I've made through this blog. Some I've met in person, many I haven't. But I truly feel that we are friends.
100. All of you dear readers. For taking the time to read my brain spew. I sincerely hope you know how thankful I am for you all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Comments

[Kendra]

You have so much to be thankful for! Happy Thanksgiving!

[Captain Dumbass]

Good list, Happy Thanksgiving.

[Aimee @ In THIS Life]

I've been wrestling with my own post. I'm stealing your list idea.

Happy Thanksgiving! Give that boy a squeezy-hug from me, unless that would be creepy. ;)

[Kristie]

I'm thankful that I get to read your blog and you make me smile and very often laugh out loud! Thank you for sharing your world with this Missouri girl!

[Brenda]

I'm thankful that I can read your blog, and laugh and say "hmmm",and look into a bit of your life. Thank you for taking the time to share. Happy Thanksgiving!

[Lynn]

We are so thankful for YOU! Lots of love from all of us.

[Keely]

Aw, aren't you the sweetest thing! I hope you had a good Thanksgiving after your defooding incident. Sorry I've been a bad commenter this week.

[only a movie]

What a great idea. Hope your holiday was lovely.

I hope you record/post some snippets of your Gloria performance. I did it in high school and college and wish I could do it again. It was the first(and last)time I had a big solo.