My Thanksgiving thanks was inspired by my good friend and writer buddy, Anne Wayman.

I loved Anne’s idea of an annual list of what we are thankful for.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States, I share my 2014 Thanksgiving Thanks list. I warn you, the list is a typical example of my strange, wandering mind.

To keep this manageable, I limit my list to 50 items. Believe me, I could go on and on.

I am truly blessed.

Thanksgiving Thanks 2014

1. My mom’s health – At 91 years of age, my mom is amazing. I am thankful that God blessed her with such good health.
2. My health – Other than a bad cornea and an isolated incidence with skin cancer (of the most common kind), I am extremely thankful for my good health. I think I may be drafting Mom here. 🙂
3. My family – They say there is strength in numbers. Lord knows my family has done its bit to populate the earth. I love each and every one of you. And we welcome our newest family member, Olive.
4. My 3-Day teammates – For the last several years, the 3-Day Walk for the Cure happens the week before Thanksgiving. If I ever needed a reason to be thankful, being with my teammates again reminds me how blessed I am. I love you ladies.
5. My clients – I so appreciate my clients. I love their professionalism and passion for what they do. I wish you continued success in 2015 and thank you for your business – and in many cases – your friendship.
6. My readers – I think most writers would agree that even if no one ever read what we wrote, we would still write. But it sure is nice to know that you do! I thank my readers and their generous support and their comments that make my heart smile.
7. My friends – At my age, you cherish the friends you’ve known for ages and recognize the keepers you’ve just met.  Friends understand. Friends share, celebrate your successes and mourn your losses. Thank you to all my friends – old and new – and those I have yet to meet.
8. My freelance trio – Speaking of friends, I thank my freelance trio of friends who keep me sane and always make me laugh.
9. My growing list of virtual friends – Virtual friends are one of the true blessings of social media. Like anything in life, social media has its good and bad. The friends I’ve never met personally but met in cyberville are an important part of my life.
10. My #FF buddies – I know there are those who hate my list of weekly #FF posts. But I love my #FF friends and use it as a way to stay in touch with my #FF friends when the overwhelming world would keep us apart.
11. The 3-Day event coordinators – The people who help put the 3-Day together are amazing. 3-Day coaches, crew, medics, volunteers, and the ever-generous San Diego community who go way above and beyond in supporting us as we walk 60 miles in 3 days. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
12. LaCosta Spa & Resort – Post-3-Day massages, whirlpools, poolside lunches. Ah, bliss. My only wish – since Omni bought them a few years ago, we lost our 3-Day discount. **Hint, hint**
13. My MBTs – The bankruptcy of MBT has my feet trembling. I may have worn my last pair. Not because I won’t buy more – but because they don’t have more – not the kind that work for 60 miles of feet-pounding trauma. MBT has leather sandals but have you tried leather on swollen feet? I  am thankful for all the blister-free years MBTs have contributed to.
14. My Balega socks -Thanks to my friend and teammate, Beth, and our team’s own personal trainer, I discovered Balega socks. They are fabulous for the 3-Day. Keep your toes cozy and blister-free.
15. My success on 3-Day hills – Yay! Second year in a row I got up ALL of the San Diego gnarly hills without my usual breathing break. In the past, I pulled off to the side, collected my lung and trudged on. My lungs stayed intact and I got up the hills in one fell swoop!
16. My Old Lady Walking store – It may do modest business (to say the least), but I have fun with my new store.
17. My new Why 60 Miles site – I hope to set this site soaring. I am thankful for finally putting my passion in print.
18. My walks – Boise weather may challenge my walks but I love my 5-6-mile walks that help body, mind, and soul.
19. My office view – My office view looks out on the beautiful four seasons Idaho has to offer on a cul-de-sac with little traffic. Beautiful and inspiring.
20. My new tablet -My laptop died right before my San Diego trip. I put the cash out there for a 2-in-1 tablet/laptop. So far, I’ve been loving the new toy.
21. Books and even the e-kind – My nightly vigil is reading for 1-2 hours before falling asleep. While paper books are still my preferred read, the new tablet introduced me to the joys of ebooks for airplane travel.
22. Writing for me -I enjoy creative writing and blogs that share my passion. In 2014, I was able to scratch that itch more often. I hope for even more time in 2015.
23. The holidays – I love holidays. Halloween is my favorite but Thanksgiving and Christmas bring their own unique joy.
24. E-cards – Like books, I still love the paper kind; however, some of the ecards, especially the animated kind, sure are fun to send and recieve.
25. My faith – I am very private about my faith. I believe it’s personal but it brings me comfort, balance, and peace.
26. Laughing -Few things in life are better than laughter. I am thankful for laughter each and every day.
27. Warm socks -Freelancing brings so many joys. And as someone who knows the comfort of happy feet, warm socks are priceless.
28. Comfy work clothes -And speaking of comfort, I love my freelance work clothes – no shoes and comfy computer-sitting clothes.
29. Barefoot days – I am thankful for the California-living days of barefoot days that creep into my now Boise-living.
30. Reading glasses – I hate my deteriorating vision but thank the Lord for cheap (and fashionable) reading glasses I have everywhere.
31. PB&J -The 3-Day reminds me of this childhood comfort food – peanut butter & jelly – ah, ecstasy.
32. Popcorn – I’m on a thankful food roll. I love popcorn. Simple. Filling. Satisfying.
33. Trader Joe’s – And my favorite popcorn is Trader Joe’s Organic Popcorn With Olive Oil. Thank goodness Trader Joe’s came to Boise.
34. Christmas cactus – I look around my office desk and appreciate that my Christmas cactus is once more blooming.
35. Music – Music is the sweet melody of life. It makes work creative, inspiring, and happy.
36. Family photos -Gazing around my living space, I receive a warm fuzzy from the comfort of family photos.
37. Videos – I love funny videos shared by friends and the ability to capture memories for life.
38. Flowers -Spring explodes in color and scent as flowers remind us we are alive and life is good.
39. Green tea -Green tea offers a warm embrace of comfort and soothing that leaves me closing my eyes and feeling myself relax.
40. Water -I’ll take water over any soda or other drink. No, really.
41. Creative Copy Challenge -I am so happy this happy community is back!
42. Notre Dame -Their football team takes me to incredible highs and aching lows. Their women’s basketball team leaves me proud and sad when we come so close. Throughout it all, we are the Fighting Irish.
43. San Diego Chargers – I have been a Chargers fan since the KGB Chicken (later the San Diego Chicken) was the most exciting thing on the field. ♫San Diego Super Chargers♫
44. My bed and comforter -After being gone for two weeks and sleeping on a couple of couches, I am thankful for my bed and its comfy comforter.
45. Morning coffee and the paper newspaper – My morning ritual is my coffee and the morning newspaper. I don’t know what I’ll do when the old-time newspaper is gone forever.
46. Surprises – I love surprises. An unexpected gift or a call from a childhood friend. A card or email just saying Hi. The simple, unexpected is always a nice surprise.
47. Keeping it simple – Simple is more than my business tagline. Simple is my goal in life. Never forget the simple joys.
48. Spam blockers – I will never understand spammers but I am extremely thankful for the technology of spam filters that keep them at bay.
49. Technology – I totally appreciate the brilliant minds that make our life simpler. I may not be an early adopter, but I do appreciate you.
50. Memories – Boomer brain not withstanding, memories are a gift that grows with passing time.

I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you for joining me in this journey.

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Live…Laugh…Love

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