I am grateful for my husband, who is funny and supportive and patient and tender and dear.

I am grateful for my tall one and her deep heart, and my small one and her quick wit.

I am grateful for my mom and dad, and their constancy.

I am grateful for my mother-in-law and the still-very-nearness of my father-in-law, who have always made me one of theirs.

I am grateful for my sister, who lives back in this country again — just one time zone away.

I am grateful for my sisters- and brothers-in-law and my neice and nephews and countless cousins and aunts and uncles, of whom I got more than my fair share.

I am grateful for Goodness, capital G.

I am grateful for friends, true blue, and students, old and new.

I am grateful for my writing chums, without whom I’d hurl myself from windows, and my agent and editor and illustrators, for whom I’d hurl myself from windows. So to speak.

I am grateful for libraries.

I am grateful for the hike-and-bike trail and Ladybird Lake and the Rocky Mountains and the deep blue sea.

I am grateful for running shoes, yoga mats and tents.

I am grateful for good cheese and fine wine.

I am grateful for music.

I am grateful for unlimited long distance and email.

I am grateful that email has an off button.

I am grateful for my cats and my old white dog.

I am grateful for the muse and the mind, the body and the breath.

I am grateful for you…