November 19 - a Give Thanks virtual party

 I'm virtually attending a virtual party today, organized by The Vintage Nest, and my mission is to give thanks by telling something I'm grateful for.

I am so fortunate in so very many ways, this would be a very long entry if I listed even a fraction of my blessings.      I am grateful to have lost my job last year.  My workplace was a sort of black hole for human contact, and I could go days, even weeks, without seeing another living soul, because each of us worked in a private office with a closed door.   Chatting with coworkers was expressly disapproved. There were a couple of women who had been there for years, whom I had known since they arrived, and we had to sneak around like kindergarteners to occasionally talk in whispers.   I am sorry that none of us were able to get to know each other well enough -- in 22 years -- to be outside-of-work friends, but I am glad, glad, glad to be out of that toxic place.

 I am grateful for my family, from siblings to children to adorable grandchildren and great nieces, grateful beyond my ability to tell.   I am grateful for coffee in the morning and for wine on the occasional night.   I am grateful for the messes that remind me that the kids were here.

I am grateful for the crisp fall days, the crunch of dry leaves, my pantry full of food, my warm house, clean clothing, and my own cooking.  I am very grateful for warm fuzzy socks when the floor is cold and for bare feet with polished toes when it is not.   I am grateful for my pretty neighborhood and nice neighbors,  and for a garage in the winter.    And by golly, right now I am grateful for the heated seats and hands-free phone in my new car.

 I am grateful for the places I've been and - knock wood - the places I have yet to go.   I am grateful for the seashells in every room that remind me of countless visits to Sanibel Island, and for the mementos from trips to Alaska and Rome.

I know I should be grateful for every minute but I admit, sometimes I forget.    Even if individual moments sometimes fray me, though,  I am grateful for every day, grateful to know my own strength, grateful for the workings of my brain that always tends toward a twisted kind of optimism.   I am grateful for the troubles I have risen above, and for the belief that I will ride things through when hard times come again.    I will try, if the time comes, to be grateful for the pain that is necessarily linked to having loved.  I am grateful for the sights, sounds, smells and memories of my life.   And I am grateful in advance for every bit of future I have left.

 I am also grateful for my readers!  Don't forget, my November giveaway winner will be drawn on November 30.  The prize includes a sparkly bath gel and other goodies!   The box is packed and ready to go, as soon as YOU are the randomly chosen winner!