Gratitudes.

I've been fretting and stressing lately. But as I sit here on a snow-covered night, I have so much to be grateful for.

- I have a home. It has heat, and electricity, and running hot water, and comfort.
- I have a job that earns me enough to live on.
- I have loving and beloved family, some of whom will be happy to meet me whenever my flight gets me to Denver.
- I have loving and beloved friends, some of them new this year (I'm looking at you, Firsties and PMRPers and Prophecy folk!) and some of long standing.
- My 94-year-old grandmother is still alive. Her memory may be gone, and she may spend a lot of time in other places (mentally), but she's still my grandma and I'm so glad I went to visit her this afternoon.
- I can sing and dance and laugh and be serious and be silly and share all of these with others.
- I have a mind that works and can be creative.
- I had the chance this year to go to one of the most extraordinary place on our planet, and see wildlife up close in ways that I could not have imagined. I had a sea lion blow bubbles in my face. How awesome is that?
- I have all of you out there whose eyes at least occasionally pass over my words, and notice that I had something to say.

Blessings all of them, and many more beside.

Happy birthday in advance to chmrr and sirhc_warrior, and happy Chanukah, Yule, Christmas, and Kwanzaa to all for whom they're relevant. May you all know joy and peace, whatever holidays or no holidays you find yourself celebrating.

"As promise wakens in the sleeping land,
They carol, feast, give thanks, and dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
So do we, here, now, this year and every year.
Welcome Yule!"

I'm at least in theory off tomorrow to spend Christmas with family, weather willing, so be well, all, and I'll see you on the flip side.