I'm Thankful For...

1. Sean, The man who rubs my shoulders nearly every day, and loves me even when I'm ugly.
2. Sam and Liam, who make me proud and give me reasons to laugh when I feel like crying.
3. Rose and Steve, who know just the right thing to say when I need them to say it, and are always ready with their outstretched parental arms.
4. Carol, who calls me just to talk about nothing when we don't have something to talk about.
5. Fritz, the man who makes me feel like I'm the only person who matters and cooks like a master chef.
6. Steve and Dave, who drive 90 miles to pick me up and bring me home.  Just because.
7. Anna, my sister in law, an amazing listener, who puts everyone first.  She's a gem.
8. Trisha, my surrogate sister, who keeps me grounded, hoists me through windows and invites me to her house for sleepovers when I'm sad.
9. John and Louise, who sent me their son and welcomed me into their loving hearts and their beautiful home for 17 years.
10. Shannon and Dan, the rock of relationships, whose commitment to marriage inspires and upholds.
11. Karen and Scott, who teach us all to stay close, no matter how far away we are.
12. Brian and Mary Kate, future travel partners, sharing their love of wine, food, family and friendship.
13. Erin, the in-law who makes me laugh the most, plays the best music and provides endless conversation on long walks through diverse landscapes.
14. My 12 beautiful nieces and nephews, who grew up too fast, and gave me priceless memories in California, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York City, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Santa Cruz, Hawaii, St. John, parks, playgrounds, and even Starbucks.  
15. John, who reminds me when it's an "odd year" so that we don't forget to get together and catch up.
16. Kim, my friend of 20+ years who has more spirit than any saint, any angel, anyone I know.
17. Joaquin, my loving and giving and dear, dear friend whose words of wisdom stay with me years after he speaks them.
18. Michael, whose five songs saved on our answering machine give us the giggles every time we play them.   
19. Nina and Meg, who gave me too many childhood memories to mention, but I'll not soon forget. Do paranoid people really have personal problems?
20. Jeannie and Jack, who keep me close to God, never letting me lose sight of Him, even when I'm nearly blind.
21.  Dianne and Ray, who know that there's never too much or not enough, so our holidays are filled with just the right food and just the right love and 20 lbs. of mashed potatoes.
22. Erin, Jimmy, Trev, Rich, Mike, Anne and their gorgeous,  perfect children whom I don't see enough.  It is their love that prevails and stops time so that we can reconnect when we reunite. 
23. Uncle Eddie, who, at 90-something, will surely live to be 100, setting the bar of inspiration high for all of us who think that we can't.
24. Mrs. Palmer's Pumpkin bread.
25. Kelly, who believes in me, lets me be self-deprecating, and then bathes me in her confidence.
26. Michelle, whose door is always open for advice, who always makes time to listen and wears a big smile no matter what.
27. Hetal, who has made me a better mathematician, and who knows anything is possible even when I don't.
28. Hindy, whose warm hand inspires me to write, to teach, to dream.
29. John who makes the best seared red and yellow peppers stuffed with grilled tuna and navy beans over a bed of cous cous.
30. Jamie who inspires me to get off my arse and stay in shape so that I can look half as good as she.
31. Beth, who introduced me to Banana Grams and reminds me that it's okay.  It's always okay.
32. Anne, my kindred spirit, who would throw herself in front of a train for me.
33. Ashley, who tells me I'm hot, even when I'm not.
34. Frances, a master, whose honesty and giving nature makes me feel like I matter.
35. Eve, a musical genius, an unsung heroine, who always has time to listen.
36. Jessica, who I wish I still worked across from.  She makes it so easy to pop in, say hey, and shoot the breeze.
37. Carla, who launched my teaching career with her example and has always been one of my favorite people. 
38. Bob, my neighbor:  in a word:  Hilarious.  Please don't ever stop being funny. 
39. Henry, my mailman who, for two decades, has unconditionally said, "Hi, how you doin'? Alright.  Have a good day.  You take care."
40. Robin, who shows us what it takes to look for our lives and find happiness even when pain and grief can engulf.
41. Pamela, whose zest for song and unending passion for life finds magic in everything she touches.
42. Uncle George's Silly Goose Club. Thanks for letting me join.
43. Judith who has watched my children grow up and has fed us with her love and groceries.  She's the salt of the earth.
44. Calvin, the a staple on our block who keeps everything clean.  The mayor of our complex, may he never retire from our hearts. 
45. Benny who "smelled some-ting" when I smelled it, too.   It was behind the stove hanging by it's electrocuted tail.   His sheepish grin is a monument in my life. Does he really have to move back to Malta?
46. Mike who scares me with Halloween masks, sneaks up on me when I'm the last teacher in the building and would do anything in the world for me.  Anything!  He is a role model who lives with honor.
47. Love.
48. Friendship.
49. Family.
50. Time.
51. Peace.
52. Joy.
53. Life.