Time for reflection

I try to be thankful every day for the many blessings in my life, but this is the week in the U.S. in which we celebrate an official Thanksgiving Day. So, rather than making a list, I thought I’d randomly share some of the things I’m thankful for at this moment:

I’m grateful for my family, always. Their love, their support, their indulgence of my neuroses and quirks. For the stray cat who wandered into my house 11 years ago and hasn’t stepped out since, and is even now purring beside me. For my extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews. The clan grows larger all the time, and I love feeling that connection. I’m thankful to still have my dad, and that he’s in good health. And I am so very grateful for the beautiful, special memories of my beloved mother, whose spirit will be with me through the holiday season.

I’m thankful for apple cinnamon herbal tea and skinny vanilla lattes. For 100-calorie pack snacks (currently loving the Emerald cocoa-roast almonds) and Yoplait Yogurt Delights that have helped me lose 20 pounds since April and get back to a healthier weight.

I’m grateful for the laptop computer I’m typing on now. For all computers, actually. I still remember using white-out and correction tape on all my typos when writing my first book. What a nightmare! And I’m happy my computer is full of music to inspire and entertain me while I write.

And speaking of entertainment, I’m thankful for the TV shows I most love right now — Castle, The Mentalist, White Collar, Burn Notice, Lost, House and Fringe — and all the pretty men on those shows who provide such delightful eye candy (as the old saying goes, I’m married, not dead!). I make no apologies for being a TV junkie, though I’m not really into reality programming (except the dancing and singing and cooking competitions, which I enjoy). I love clever writing, whether between the covers of books, on a movie screen or on my aging Sony 27-inch TV screen!

I’m thankful for pre-lighted Christmas trees and steam-in-the-bag veggies and digital cameras. For cell phones with nationwide coverage and mobile-to-mobile plans that let me stay in touch with my daughters on their separate coasts. And grateful that both those daughters and my son-in-law will be home for Christmas!

I’m grateful for my friends. The ones I’ve known since childhood. Ones I’ve met more recently. Writer friends who are always there to listen to my whining or brainstorm an idea. On-line friends who share my interests in TV or parenting or playing the occasional on-line game.

I’m so very thankful to be pursuing the career that was my lifelong dream. For the opportunity to work in pajamas and spend so much time in my daydreams. For my agent and editors who are my support team in making each book the best it can be. For the readers who buy my books and take the time to let me know when they enjoy them. What a blessing you have all been!

I could ramble on endlessly about the things for which I am grateful — the roof over my head, the food in my pantry, my health, fuzzy socks and dark chocolate. The point is, no matter how blue I might be, or how frustrating life becomes at times, there are always things to be thankful for and I try to make a point to mentally list those things often. I’ve found that habit to be a very effective therapy (along with a piece of dark chocolate and a pretty face on the TV screen).

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

You still have time to enter the drawing for this month’s prize of two Christmas-themed books! Don’t forget to sign up for the Dec. 1 drawing by sending me an email at gina.w@live.com. Click on the Enter to Win! tab above for details.