'Only a stomach that rarely feels hungry, scorns common things.' Horace

'What one relishes, nourishes.' Benjamin Franklin

'At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.

Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.'
Albert Schweitzer

'The expression of praise as thanksgiving, gratitude, and joy is among the most powerful forms of affirmation.' Catherine Ponder

My list of gratitude is enormous. First and foremost, I am grateful for the love of my husband who is my best friend and my joy. For my beautiful daughter and her brilliant Desi. For my health and theirs. For my wonderful friends, old and new, present and online. For the roof over our heads. For the 37th Thanksgiving dinner I will be cooking in my own kitchen today and all of the ones that came before, including the first, when I could not find the dark meat and insisted my turkey came without any. For my husband's office staff who care for him when I cannot. For my daughter's bosses who are kind, brilliant, caring and generous. For the staff that she loves. For the job that she rushes to early and happily each morning. For laughter, for adversity, and the lessons that both offer and help me to grow. For our TempurPedic bed. For happy surprises. For reunions and goodbyes that bring reunions closer again. For my cameras. For this country and the leadership to come. For Mayor Daley even though he isn't my Mayor. For the ability to find gratitude in a lot and a little. For today and hopefully tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving!

'For the unlearned, old age is winter; for the learned, it is the season of the harvest.' Talmud

'A gift is pure when it is given from the heart to the right person at the right time and at the right place, and when we expect

nothing in return.' Bhagavad Gita

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.' Maya Angelou

'The unthankful heart..discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find...

in every hour, some heavenly blessings!' Henry Ward Beecher
I don't live in Evanston as it says in the brochure and that was unsettling to me...although I do love Evanston...and they did spell my name correctly which doesn't always happen and there IS the photo cred and the validation of 'People's Choice' voting..it was a yin/yang sort of excitement to finally getting our copy and rushing through to see the results in print.

'Gratitude consists of being more aware of what you have, than what you don't.' Unknown

This is Jack who has cleaned our windows for well over ten years. Dependable, soft spoken and way more efficient than the person who had the job before him (me). Jack's real work is that of a fireman in the city - both jobs earning him great respect. I'm grateful to have him around.

'Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.' Henry Ward Beecher

Veteran's Day 2008

THANK YOU SO MUCH

'Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.' Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Ok, WHAT? Not 'high maintenance, but I'm working on vanity. I'll take the 8, hope for a 6. Chill. And, $120 to $39.97? Thanks!

'We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.' Thornton Wilder

we are always grateful for good news on the health front

'Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.' Marcel Proust

32 years and counting....

Friday Night - Date Night!

'Don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines.' Satchel Paige

surrounded by Fall....

taking the time to look UP and see the trees against the bluest skies...

they are falling fast, but some are still changing color and holding on.

'As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.' John F. Kennedy

Gratitude - the state of being grateful: thankfulness (in no particular order)...

Thanks Alan. Thanks Margaret.

When I was 7, my friend Margaret Sullivan taught me to ride on her brand new 2 wheeler. No bigger sacrifice was ever made as I was great on the straightaways but couldn't manage a corner without falling and scraping both myself and her new Schwinn. In front of Merle and Stevie and Myra, she'd admonish me to 'get back on the horse' and try again and again and again until at the end of only one long and bloody day, I could ride. Shortly after, my dad brought home a 'used' 28 inch bike that we rushed to paint navy blue in the laundry room. Being so small, I could stand and pedal or sit and coast, but never both at the same time. It didn't matter. With new handlebar streamers and a bell loud enough to make grownups jump out of my way, I was Annie Oakley on my trusted horse 'Blue' riding to Hollywood Park for picnics with my friends. Long days of FREEDOM! Every time I ride my bike even now, I am still seven and still Annie Oakley. Thanks for being a pal and fixing my bike Alan. And thanks Margaret for your extraordinary patience and kindness.