In response to the requests of my friends, here it is.
1 – My husband. Duh! Did you think I wouldn’t put him at the top of the list?
2 – My chosen family. I’m not sure why they put up with me on any given day.
3 – My blood family. I’d have put them higher, but they don’t live close enough to kick my butt and my chosen family does.
4 – Laziness. It has apparently stopped the people who didn’t like my books from writing any scathing reviews.
5 – Texas. It gives me something to point and giggle at.
6 – Election Day. It means the long national nightmare of political advertising is over and we have reached a decision. Unless you live in Tucson. Then you have at least 10 more days before they’re done counting the damn votes and you find out who your congressman is.
7 – Furry friends. The regular household pet type, not those icky humans in the fur suits. Those people need some counseling and drugs – they creep me out.
8 – Restraints. There are times they are useful in preventing me from slapping someone just for being an idiot.
9 – Maturity. I don’t really have it in droves, but the little bit I have has saved me from having an author bio (like a million others) that says, “I love coffee, chocolate, and studly men.” That’s a freaking given, not a damn bio, ladies.
10 – Colt M1911A1. You knew I couldn’t go more than ten days without bringing up the .45. Now that’s a weapon to be grateful for.
11 – Veterans. If you don’t know why – get your useless ass the hell off my blog.
12 – My smart friends. I know some brilliant people who have expertise in a variety of areas, and I shamelessly milk them for information.
13 – Cheerleaders. No, not the type in the short skirts. Although, one time there was this yell king… never mind. I’m talking about the people who constantly encourage me.
14 – Overheard comments with no context. Several of these have led to novels. Your misery is my fodder.
15 – Vacation. I’d like one. A lot. Must sell more books.
16 – Facebook. My lord – have you seen the stupidity out there? I really must include a conspiracy theory idiot in a book.
17 – My less than brilliant friends. These are the people who after seven books say, “Oh! Do you write?”
18 – My mother. Who taught me not to say what I really think when I’m in public or answering my less brilliant friends.
19 – The military. They reinforced the lesson about not saying what you really think. Not that my commanders ever believed I learned this lesson.
20 – College Football. Please don’t ask me to do anything on Saturdays in the fall. I’m busy quacking.
21 – Bologna. Sometimes a gal just needs two pieces of white bread, two slices of bologna, and some yellow mustard. It ain’t fancy, but all this healthy crap makes me appreciate a good old-fashioned bologna sandwich.
22 – Cops. They make me happy. Maybe it’s the handcuffs…
23 – Thanksgiving. It’s all about the gravy. I love real homemade turkey gravy. I can’t get enough of it. I flood my plate with it. I dream… never mind. Turkey gravy is good.
24 – A sense of humor. More people need to grow one.
25 – Motorcycles. I don’t ride, but I do love to see them and hear them. I wish I was with them. Right up until it rains.
26 – Naps. It’s nice to know they’re available to me.
27 – Coming home from the gym. It’s done for the day and there is coffee waiting.
28 – Reunions. You see people just long enough to remember why you left town.
29 – Typing skills. Life is easier if you can type properly. I’m not as fast as I used to be, but I’m still fast enough to misspell my fair share of stuff.
30 – That this 30 days of gratitude is over.
All fun aside – I’m grateful for the opportunities that I have had, the life I lead, and the people who are in my life.
