Today I am grateful for:

• rain this morning, sun and dynamic clouds now;
• fall and changing leaves;
• geese flying low in formation;
• breakfast and lunch with aunts and cousins;
• old pictures in albums and boxes, with folks around who are old enough to retell their tales for accurate labeling and appropriate laughter;
• the smell of slow-simmering spaghetti sauce for a meal I won’t be at;
• aisle seats for the flight home;
• someone else taking care of getting someone else to take care of my detention duty today;
• a “cooling” trend back at home (down from triple digits, at least);
• not being rushed for packing and airport driving;
• did I mention the cool weather and changing leaves?
• real seasons (as opposed to mud, fire, wind, and earthquake);
• family affirmation that my writing can create emotions and move people (probably not that hard to do in the family with the sap gene);
• conversations yesterday with friends about writing, crystallizing and clarifying and motivating conversations that will lead to better writing as soon as today;
• the insects in the tree that are still whirring and squeaking and clicking, even on this rainy, sunny, windy, cool afternoon;
• the fact that Grandpa managed his own breakfast and medications while we were out of the house this morning;
• the phone call from an aunt/cousin (she’s sort of both) concerned about my church-attendance hiatus;
• the prayers and positive thoughts and well-wishes of friends.