These days, it feels like we’re all living in a state of near-terror, as budgets crash and job disappear.  So here is a list of things that I’m thankful for, the small things that make life wonderful:

• The sunshine streaming through our windows on a greyish March day
• The deciduous trees that keep that same sunshine from coming into our house in the heat of summer
• Jim
• Ophy, the fat n’ fluffy sweetie pie lovebug of a cat
• Pippa, the bit too skinny now but still beautiful lap slut of a cat
• Our woodstove
• Books
• Scrabble games with Jim, even though I usually lose
• Those a-ha moments for the students I tutor, when a new mental door opens up for them
• The unadulterated smiles on the faces of the babies at the infant storytime
• Being called “My Abby” by one of the toddlers who frequents the library
• Discussions about books and reading with the elementary school kids who like to chat with me after school
• The heart-pumping buzz of shoveling the driveway in a snowstorm
• Dark chocolate
• Mark T. Wendell Formosa Keemun Tea (try it, it’s the best)
• Snuggling under loads of blankets on a cold winter night; warm everywhere but for the cold nose
• Listening to Jim’s guitar
• A fresh sweet orange in the middle of winter

Once you get started with a thankful list, it’s hard to stop…add your own list in the comments…