Today I read a blog called oddly grateful in which a blogger started a list of things he (she?) was grateful and then tagged another blogger to continue the list. I wasn’t tagged to continue the list, but I absolutely loved reading it. It also inspired me to create my own list. Here goes.
1. Good decaf. Yes, I know that is offensive to some who say there is no such thing as good decaf. But there is. And because I can no longer drink coffee due to a strange heart thing I have going, I gotta say I’m oddly grateful for the good decaf I have found. Thank you, Seth! Um, I do sneak some real stuff now and again. Sorry Dr. Gonzalez.
2. Living just a few blocks from Mexico. If you love to travel to Mexico, you understand this. If you don’t love it, come for a visit and I will take you there, and you will love it. Some things that make this location particularly wonderful are the sound of the train a few blocks south (in Mexico), hearing the Sunday anuncios (announcements) (from Mexico), and developing an odd liking for the Customs guys who work at our port of entry. And I think they have an odd liking for me, too. Oh, and my affordable dentist (in Mexico).
3. The peacocks that roam the neighborhood.
4. The burros about eight blocks away that I can hear in the mornings, sometimes along with coyote calls.
5. My roommate Debbie and her wonderful doggie Nellie because they take care of my house and my wonderful doggie Chloe when I am gone. And Debbie has turquoise hair that I love.
6. Chloe.
7. The cranes at Whitewater Draw who are back for the winter!
8. Summer, because that’s when the sun gets up as early as I do. And because of the monsoons. And because it’s not cold like it is here today.
9. Islandia Marina in Bahia Kino. In Mexico, of course (see #2). Where I am headed on Wednesday!
10. My book groups and the women in them.
11. My women friends, who overlap with my book groups (see #10 above). Without them, there are times I would not have made it.
12. My boyfriend Alfredo who has the most zany sense of humor and makes a mean taco. He also does dishes and vacuums.
13. Cool mornings by my fire pit.
14. Moonrise.
15. Sunset.
16. Wine on summer evenings with Lori and David and sometimes Alfredo (see #12) watching the sunset (see #15), sometimes seeing moonrise (see # 14), hearing the burros (see #4), or mornings with them enjoying my decaf (see#1). Chloe (see #6) often joins us. And all of this is very, very close to Mexico (see #2). (Mexico! Where I am headed on Wednesday!)
17. My camera, which feels oddly left out of this post, and my computer, which feels well loved right now.
That’s all I can think of off the top of my head. Thank you Ann Koplow for your fabulous post this morning on your wonderful blog, The Years(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally. You inspire me daily!
What are you grateful for?
wonderful blog, The Years(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally. You inspire me daily!
What are you grateful for?
Emilie Vardaman 
I am grateful that I have found bloggers like you.
Thank you! And back at ya!
Okay, since you were in the room, we just had this conversation, but I’m enjoying the idea of going on the record with these thoughts. I was just tickled while I read this joyful post. Gratitude is a form of love and in my “book”, Love is a Power Tool. Happy Thanksgiving Em. I am grateful for you too and the Fair Princess, Border “Collieish” Chloe E O E O! Miss Nellie Belle adores you. You are one of her dearest “peeps”. ❤
Thanks, Debbie! What a wonderful fate that brought us together.
I’m grateful I got to live in the desert for a while. Sadly, not near Mexico. Happy trails on Wednesday!
But you’ve got the desert, in all her wonderful glory! Make a visit to the borderlands one day.
You have really nailed this. Even though monetary excess may not be in either of our futures, you and I are incredibly wealthy. We have wonderful family members. Our table always have plenty of food. The roof over our heads does not leak. The utility bills get paid to keep us warm. You and I also have wonderful helpful friends and pets who support us, cheer us, and love us unconditionally. I think that I am most thankful for a relatively healthy body and mind (some of you might disagree) that allow me to give to those in need. I have the chance to build houses with Habitat for Humanity, run a grief support group, play guitar at church, and help some blind friends in town. I am richly blessed to have resources, skills, and desire to be able to help those in need. For that I am truly thankful.
The best of these, Bruce, after your alleged health, it your desire. Thanks for your response.
Bruce and Em – I’m thinking I’m also thankful for our Grandma & Grandpa on Frederick Street, who had a son and daughter, who married good people, who produced the four of us. We’ve all led and have had good lives, with many wonderful abilities, experiences and people to be thankful for. Three cheers for the G’s!!!!
hip hip HOORAY!
Emilie, I have a long list of things for which I’m grateful. Too long for the time I have for this reply. I’ll just say that I’m grateful for my spiritual journey, for the women in my book club group, (see Emilie’s #10), and for the fact that nothing every stays the same. I also like living one mile from the border of Mexico, the sunrises, sunsets, moonrises and moonsets, and hearing the coyotes. We don’t hear the burros. Thanks for your post.
We live in almost a straight line along the border from each other. Sorry you can’t hear the wonderful burros, but when you visit one day, we will go see (and maybe hear) them.
I am very, very grateful for YOU. Wonderful list.
Thanks, Ann. You help make my day every day!
This is wonderful!!! I love your blogs!
Thanks, Jess! And I just love YOU!!!
I am grateful for your voicing the wonders and delights of border life. The spicy cuisine and unexpected encounters.
Thanks, Cheyenne. You keep blogging too, please!
Love your thoughts. Besides the obvious thankfulness of family for me (including having YOU as my sis) this morning I was thinking that I was so thankful to have a home to complain about being messy. And messy it is, and will probably stay that way to one degree or another. But it’s home, filled with lots of people and pets that make it messy, so life is good. Messy is just a state of mind.
Yes, one of the things I am most grateful for is you. And your understanding of messiness.
What a cool lady you are, Emilie! I LOVE your list…a window into your colorful life that you live with grace and humor. Your proximity to Mexico is so lovely to hear about. I am grateful for the beauty and inspiration of your list.xo
Thanks so much! Just got home from Mexico (see #9). I was warm and cozy there – not so much here. But I’m headed back in two weeks!