I am thankful for...
- Dishwashers.
- Fireplaces.
- The local farmer’s market.
- Roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie, and all of the fall flavors.
- Sweater weather.
- Sunday afternoons, with coffee and a good book.
- Big piles of leaves that you’re never too old to jump in.
- Slow-cookers.
- The best friend you can call after months apart, and pick up right where you left off.
- Pillows.
- Quirky traditions that make my family special.
- Google.
- Planes, trains, and automobiles—because they bring you to family or bring family to you for the holiday.
- Holiday recipes that have been passed down through the family for years.
- Pints of ice cream.
- Peanut butter.
- Chocolate.
- Garbage disposals.
- Puppies!
- Delivery food.
- Friendships, new and old.
- Apple cider cocktails.
- Cocktails, in general.
- The snooze button.
- Sweatpants. And elastic waistbands.
- Cheese. Cheese plates. Macaroni and cheese. Grilled cheese.
- Caller I.D.
- Laundry machines.
- Snail mail.
- Family vacations.
- The healing power of music.
- Headphones on the city bus.
- Fall leaves changing colors.
- A Cookie-a-Day Calendar.
- Chocolate cereal with coconut milk.
- Air fresheners.
- Spellcheck. (But not Autocorrect.)
- Candles that make my home smell like the holidays.
- Movies you can watch again and again.
- The Weather Channel iPhone app.
- Mugs that tell it like it is.
- S’mores and campfires.
- Blanket forts.
- A cake that doesn’t stick to the pan.
- The perfect playlist.
- Thick albums full of photos.
- Hot sauce.
- A continuous string of green lights when you’re already running late.
- Instant oatmeal.
- A really good hug.
- Long drives on open roads.
- The last slice of pie.
- A table full of people who can tell stories from a shared childhood.
- Holiday sales.
- Cozy sheets on chilly mornings.
- The smell of lavender.
- Date nights.
- The snooze button.
- Really good co-workers.
- Belly laughs.
- The barista who knows your coffee order by heart.
- Saturday mornings.