This month I have seen friends and family on various social media sites posting statements of gratitude and thanksgiving for things, events, and people.  I am really not one to participate in  chain emails or chain posts on social media and I don’t tend to accept invitations to play any of the games I am invited to play either.  I am not sure if that really says anything about me as a “friend” or “follower,” but that is a truth about me.  And there is a part of me that still wonders if the expressions of thanksgiving are real or just people regurgitating old cliches.  I wonder about their sincerity like I wonder about the people who ALWAYS respond, “Blessed and highly favored!” every time they are asked how they are doing.  Don’t misunderstand me.  I am blessed, favored, and thankful.  However, when I ask people how they are doing, I really am interested in knowing what’s going on with them on more than a surface, artificial level.  So, when I hear someone give the same response EVERY time someone greets them , I just figure the person really doesn’t want to be known on a deeper level or they really don’t want folks in their business.  Although this may not make sense to anyone else, “The reasons I am thankful” posts remind me of those rote greeting responses.  The result of both situations is that my critical mind takes over.  Although I am somewhat cynical, I have succumbed to the pressure and feel the need to express my gratitude and thanksgiving in a simple, yet public way.  You know, simplicity can be impactful and powerful.

I am thankful that:

• Winter is only ONE of the seasons in a year.
• I have seat warmers in my car.
• My kids are smarter than me.
• My canine kid is happy to see me EVERY time I walk into the house.
• I can be easily entertained.
• My kids can carry on an entire conversation in song lyrics.
• Ink cartridges come in multiple colors.
• My bottom survived the years of sitting and waiting on kids to finish stuff.
• Aloe vera lives in my medicine cabinet.
• I found at least one box in the garage that has stuff I really should have saved.
• My kids chose not to use those journals I bought them to write about their life experiences because they knew one day their mama would be a writer and need them.
• People don’t judge me for being a coffee snob or a chocolate snob.
• The leagues and networks have figured out how to start basketball coverage before football season ends.
• Living on the West Coast often means avoiding social media for hours Thursday nights to avoid the threads that have no spoiler alerts.
• I still have hope that one day I will be invited to go to Ellen’s Twelve Days of Christmas with my daughter.
• The dirty dish fairy feels welcome in my kitchen.
• There are no smelly, dirty, clothes and shoes hidden in the back of my car making it smell like a locker room.
• We don’t use dial up at our house anymore.
• I never have to worry about whether my handbags are gonna be too tight.
• My husband likes to drag us into bookstores to wait for him to read every word in some book on the history of some random topic.
• At least summer reading programs at local libraries got my kids to read books even if only for the microwave popcorn and trinkets they could earn.
• The book mobile came to my neighborhood when I was a child.
• I know my neighbors by name which unfortunately ain’t common anymore.
• My childhood church family valued public speaking and leadership opportunities for kids.
• My neighbors care about my business, but try not to be in my business.
• My “kid cab” provided countless safe rides to kids for many years and the “car ministry” blessed kids with a place to laugh and talk about kid stuff.
• I have a closet full of board games and the kids will be home this week.
• I can’t shake the need to follow the sweet with the salt.
• We still pop popcorn the old fashion way with olive oil, kernels, sea salt, and butter.
• You took the time to read this post and support my blog.