what are you thankful for?

This year, I'm most grateful for the successful treatment of my father-in-law's prostate cancer, which caught us all by surprise back in February when an x-ray to diagnose L.'s hip pain revealed what his annual PSA tests had not. (Some of the rarer and more aggressive forms of prostate cancer do not raise the PSA above the normal range until they have metastasized.)

I am also thankful for my in-laws' move to our neck of the woods; for all of our instructors and fellow students at King Tiger Martial Arts; for great coworkers (who almost make up for my recently insane boss); for lower interest rates that allowed us - finally - to roll our odious student loans into our mortgage; beautiful if below-freezing weather for Thanksgiving day; for having a talented, creative and generous mother-in-law to split the holiday cooking with me; and, for being born at a time and in a place (and with very little melanin) such that securing the necessities of life has never been a struggle.

By this time next year, I hope to be thankful for a President Elect John Edwards, a filibuster-proof Democratic majority in the Senate, the drawdown of troops in Iraq, the failure of Cheney to get his invasion of Iran, a new job for me, a job for my husband in one of the school districts closer to home, and less self-induced stress for L. (who is a perfectionist in all things, from his homework to his butterfly kicks).

We're shutting the office down early today, and after that I'll be home making pumpkin cheesecake, brioche and jalapeno-tequila cranberry sauce, so this is farewell until at least Friday. Have a fabulous Thanksgiving, y'all, and revel in your good fortune (whatever it is).