Am I Thankful? Oh yes...

With Thanksgiving tomorrow, it would be selfish not to openly acknowledge a few of the things (and people) I am thankful for:

• My husband: without him, I'm lost. He's my true north (feel free to gag at my gushing). He supports me materially, financially and emotionally. He's generally a good guy, even when he's a jerk, and he always knows how to make me laugh. I'm blessed to have found him, and I am thankful every single day; even when I want to run him over with the car...
• My mom: she's been my hero all my life, and continues to be. She's the epitome of the American dream, even when she's struggling. She fights her battles with the world daily, but always has time to listen, give a hug, or share a cup of tea and some cookies. She always knows what each of us needs, whether it's encouragement, or a kick in the ass, and is excellent at providing both!
• My family: parents, step-parents, siblings, siblings-in-law, step-siblings, nieces, nephews, gram, aunts, uncles, cousins... There's a lot of dimension to family, especially in mine. There's a lot of complexity, a lot of drama, and also a lot to be grateful for. My siblings, and for the most part their spouses, are among my best friends. It wasn't always that way, and I'm extremely grateful that now, as adults, we've all found a way to be a (generally) united front, at least vs. the world at large, if not within our own circle! Nobody can make us laugh the way we do with each other, and in a world where so many people don't speak to their families at all, we're extremely lucky to have each other! I'd also like to mention that there is no joy in the world quite like one of the kids saying, "I love you Aunt Jenn"... Nope, no joy like it...
• My in-laws: they raised a hell of a man, for which they should be proud, but they took me in as if I were one of their own, and they've been wonderful surrogate parents to me.
• Friends: I let go of some bad friends, made some new friends, and reconnected with some old friends... I know who I can depend on for what, and each of my "best" friends has a part of my heart that nobody else can ever occupy. I love you all.

I'm also grateful for things like the opportunity to finally finish my college degree, tracing my family's roots and making connections with distant relatives in the process, and learning more about who I am and why. Life is good, I am blessed, and I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving!