Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving. We have company coming. I did weeding and deadheading in front and back and moving furniture. My wife did a bunch of baking and cooking... and directing. I love the way we work together, always by consensus.

That's the number one thing I'm thankful for: my wife.

I'm thankful that we have a roof over our heads that doesn't leak, and that we have enough income to keep it there. Enough income to keep food in the larder. Enough income to pay for good health insurance. Enough income to keep the cars fed. Enough income to share with those in need.

I am also thankful for the community at church that we're a part of. I'm thankful for friends and for my ease at being friendly. I'm thankful for fellow writers, who read my stories and whose stories I get to read.

I'm thankful for the Sonoma County Public Library and the rich selection of books they have to lend for free.

I'm thankful that we're able to live in California, a deep blue state that, to a much greater extent than a lot of states, makes a safe place for people of other than the white, Christian, cisgender male persuasion.

I'm thankful for this Bellevue Ranch neighborhood, for its diversity, its (relative) peacefulness and its safety.

I'm thankful for my health, physical and mental, emotional and spiritual. For eyesight and hearing, for smelling and tasting, for touching and balance.

I'm thankful for my level of intelligence and for the upbringing I had that taught me to use it. For the upbringing I had that taught me not to hate.

It's a good life I have. Much better than most other folks have. I hope the next one is a little more equitable for all the souls in the Universe.