Yes… indeed… more of the thankful… and damned glad to share it.  Because there are so many who aren’t.  Like the people having fist fights in the WalMart over cheap chinese crap.

Yes, it happened again.  Amazing.  Truly amazing.

But anyway, I’m not grateful for cheap Chinese crap this year… although I did buy some of it.  Yes, I’m part of the Black Friday (or Brown Thursday) problem… but I did minimize my footprint pretty well and only bought exactly what I intended and what was on sale and I got a great deal on a TV for my Dad and Step-Mom… so there’s that.  So overall I consider the shopping successful, with some national and some local thrown in on Saturday just to spread the wealth.

And, of course, I’m infinitely grateful for all of the delicious food I got to eat this weekend.  Amazing food, provided yet again by Chef Denny Trantham, assisted by the lovely Natalie.  Farm to table rocks y’all… and Denny has turned it into an artform.  Truly.  There aren’t enough words to do it justice.  I’ll use delicious, but that’s so inadequate.  Next year the feast is at our house… and I only hope I can do it justice.  Big shoes and all that.

Also, there was a good time had in Asheville yet again, but that’s to be expected by this point.  We love that town… one day we’ll be part-time residents I know.  Roaming the streets, soaking in the cold bite of Winter… it’s a nice change from our lingering Florida heat.  No, I’m not interested in living there full-time, but a visit to Winter and Snow and Stick Season is good.  It reminds me again why I love it there, and why I love home when I get back.

But that still wasn’t the best part.

Oh no.

The best part?  The really, really best part?  That’s easy.  It was getting to spend some time with the people I love.  Who love me back.  And remembering again how lucky I am to have every one of them in my life.  I remember.  I may not always act grateful, but I am.  Truly, I am.  And although I may not say so, I’m glad they’re in my life.  Always.

Even when I think I’m not.

So with this, I’m drawing a close to the Month of Gratitude.  I’m grateful that I had it.  Grateful that I lived it.  Grateful that I was able to share it with all of you.  Thanks for reading… thanks for being a friend… thanks… I’m grateful.

Always.