I Am Thankful For - A Short List by R. Bayles I am thankful for: My stable job, my odd-ball friends, and my cozy home; my nightly glass of wine, the literature on my writing desk, and the food on my table; memories; my relationship gone sour that taught me innumerable life lessons; my thumbs; the father that taught me how to be the man I am; the mother that corrected him when she felt he got it wrong (love you both!); the Chance, Westhoff, and Bayles families for being such stand-up folks and outstanding coworkers; meteorites and role models, for proving that a fall from grace can be awe-inspiring; kind and unkind strangers alike; unexpectedly amazing nights out; my Media Player playlist; cousins; my childhood brothers; coffee that is blacker than Denzel and thicker than Albert (is it racist?); whittling wood; moments of perfect clarity; that perfect song that sets the mood for the day; gravity; my cat, Nibbler, and my dog, Sirius; people that understand my sense of humor (AKA, my three beautiful sisters); Cheerios; every bullet, toothpick, nail, fork, rapier, stone, glass shard, mower blade, sharp stick, boulder, limb, brick, bumper, automobile, and animal that missed my heart, eyeball, artery, bone, mouth, muscle, brain, finger, ear canal, toe, belly button, body, gut bag, nose, thigh, and face; good food and good company; the natural world and the wonders that comprise it; P. Klaassen; my strong moral compass; ladies from Ohio; love and androids; apples; Sleepytime tea; power naps; Sly and the Family Stone; cover bands; my college degree; a good cigar; my grandparents, both living and passed, for their great stories and life lessons imparted; the Eagles; my past and future travels; my aunts and uncles that have helped me out so much, and this year in particular; that first breath of morning air; comic books; knee-high socks; chess sets and card decks; bubble wrap; having something to look forward to; scotch; my nieces and nephews; permanent markers of all colors; poets and their views on reality; Adagio : Sonata in E minor; freedom of speech; freedom, period; Thesauri; finding that last iota of inner strength that gets you through a tough situation, just when you thought you couldn’t go on any longer; opportunities; synchronicity; feeling unique; Mark Twain’s legacy; Barry Manilow; the fact that I am a man and not a woman (no offense intended, I just love being a man); and, most importantly, my son and daughter, who for the past two years have taught me that every day brings uncertainty and doubt, hardship and success, and that the world spins on and the circle of life is not a myth, that until the day I die I will always have something to fight for, and that no matter what the next day may bring I will always have at least two reasons to believe that I can change this world for the better.
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 09:09:13 +0000