Okay, cliche question this time of year. But forget about the big stuff. What little things make you feel grateful every time you think about them?

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999

Answers

Well, I was very thankful when I finally got home last night.

Okay, I never travelled anywhere for Thanksgiving before, so I had no idea. We usually spend Thanksgiving with my evil aunt who lives about an hour and a half away from my house in Sacramento, so the biggest driving concern was usually if it was going to be foggy. But this year I drove down to LA and Holy Shit! The Traffic! The Chaos! The Frantic Drivers trying to cut me off and get to Grandma's faster than me! Yeesh. And even worse was coming home on Sunday. I-5 is the route, and it's 389 miles from my house to Grandma's, and yesterday it was stop and go the whole way. Food stops were impossible, gas stations were a zoo...it's a good thing I was sent home with the leftover Krispy Kremes and s.....Mmmmm Krispy Kreme.

Okay wait, I change my story. I'm Thankful for Krispy Kreme (coming soon to Sac) and Peet's Coffee.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999

This doesn't really sound right... but I'm thankful that my boyfriend has the flu. He just got back home last night at ten thirty and I missed him like crazy. I'm thankful that I get to have him home all day, all sweet and grateful for the endless cups of tea I'm giving him.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999

I'm thankful that my family and I are healthy. I'm thankful that I have a good marriage, a good job, nice clothes to wear, a nice warm apartment to live in, and food. I'm thankful for my piece of mind, and the strength to get up every day and do what I have to.

I am also very thankful for Starbucks Java Chip ice cream and the Foo Fighters.

It's been a hell of a year, people, good wishes to everyone!

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999

We bought a house this year, which I never thought would happen, and that makes me very thankful. But beyond the big stuff like tax advantages, I'm very thankful for htat because I just spent two weeks at home recuperating from foot surgery, and our house was a good place to do that. It's one story, so I could hobble out and get the mail. I had a big chair with an ottoman from which I could see the TV and the back yard with its bird feeder and all those damn squirrels. We have a garage, so we could take all the stuff that was cluttering the halls (we're slobs) and move it out of the way for me.

I'm also grateful that I had this needlepoint project to occupy me. I didn't feel like doing heavy reading, and I didn't find much on TV that pleased me. Although I already have 50,000 projects going, I had promised myself I could start this one and I was sure glad I did. It was just the right level of complexity for someone taking painkillers, yet difficult enough to be satisfying. It's a Victorian style picture of a tabby cat. The stripes are troublesome, but a lot more fun than just filling in a solid color would be. Plus, it will be a pillow someday and will actually be something I'll enjoy having around the house.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999

I am very thankful for my hubby and our 2 year old daughter and all the joy they bring to my life. We had a "quiet" weekend after running around all day on Thanksgiving. We slept late (even our daughter!) each day. Getting out of bed only after "Punkin" crinkled on in (the diaper crinkle lets us know when she's on the move) and roused us. We had lazy days without a schedule. Ate when it felt like the right time, got some stuff done around the house, ran some errands (only one or two and when absolutely necessary), and napped when it seemed like a good idea. We laughed a lot and played a lot and hugged a lot. It was a very good "family weekend." It was the first time in our nearly 13 year relationship that my hubby admitted that a "lazy" weekend was a well-spent weekend. It was the first time in a long time that my hubby and I REALLY talked about stuff. It was the first time in a long while that he told me that he appreciated me and the stuff I do around the house. My "little 3 person world" really "connected" over this last weekend. I'm very grateful for that. My hubby and our daughter have given me more than I ever thought I would have. I'm grateful for a place to share my gratefulness... ;)

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999

'm thankful for the microwave at work. Don't ask me why, but I love that thing. Probably because it's the fanciest microwave I've ever seen. Before this microwave came into my life I lived with one that weighed a good 280 and took hours to heat water. The best thing going for that microwave was it's ding. It had one of those turn setting timer things with a great P-I-N-G sound. Now I can buy all of those horrible little single server lunches that look fairly appetizing on the box and repulsive after you've nuked 'em for 4 minutes. Gotta run my Healthy Choice Chicken Teriyaki Bowl is ready.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999

I'm thankful for my 11 week-old little kitty, who lets out a little cry of joy and runs across the room when she sees me.

I'm thankful for my husband, who told me many times how crazy I am for wanting a FIFTH cat, and still let me have her.

I'm thankful for the times when my boss is travelling, and isn't around to harass me.

http://www.bitchypoo.com/bitchypoo.html

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999

I am thankful that I married the right person. I hear or read or witness bad marriages in action, and I just smile wryly as I wipe my brow. I really think that a bad marriage or partnership is the worst fate a human could bestow upon herself. Having a best friend to hang out with every single day, having someone you love MORE every day, having someone who tells you your morning hair is beautiful EVERY SINGLE MORNING, I tell you, it never gets old.

And of course, I'm thankful that so far my pregnancy is going normally... and I'm thankful that my reproductive system appears to work. :)

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999

I thought we were supposed to forget about the big stuff for this one, but then I read answers about husbands and houses! Oh well.

Today is my 24th anniversary, and I had a very nice day with my husband. You can only be in a relationship one day at a time, and no "union" is without it's downside, but I am thankful for all the upsides in this long, winding friendship / marriage / whatever.

I turned 48 a few days ago, so that's half my life now I've been living with this one person. I'm thankful we've not gone berserk. I'm thankful my daughter is healthy and reasonably happy at almost 29 and is getting even more beautiful both inside and out as she matures, and I am especially thankful for having such a close friendship with her.

These are not little things, I know, but since other people are talking about *husbands* and *houses*, I figure I can talk about big stuff too. :)

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999