thankful this thanksgiving

For the past several days, I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to come up with a decent, kind, heartfelt-but-not-so-sentimental-readers-think-I’m-sponsored-by-Hallmark post for Thanksgiving. What can I post that conveys my gratitude without making people grimace with nausea?

So I looked back at some of previous Thanksgiving posts: Happy Thanksgiving (2014 Edition) and Being thankful this Thanksgiving. And I realize that those posts still say what I want to say. Many bloggers and writers approach Thanksgiving Day posts hoping for some good Google juice, and that’s okay. In fact, it’s a good idea. I’m not above it, but I also want to prioritize good intentions.

Welcome to a combination Thanksgiving post that combines the best of what I’m thankful for, including you. (That’s 6 mentions of “Thanksgiving” not including the header or this sentence. Nailed it. Love me, Google.)

In fact, let’s start with you.

Yes, you. You, the super-awesome person reading this right now. You, who have stopped by my tiny blog and decided to read my tiny post. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: readership of any size is a privilege, not a right. I do zero marketing for this blog; your finding me is proof is that miracles happen.

I appreciate every one of you who stops by, leaves a comment or ‘likes’ a post.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read my blog.

Thank you for every comment, tip, pointer, joke and perspective.

Thank you for “following” and inviting me into your inbox.

Thank you for helping make it worthwhile to keep coming back to this blog, even when I take time away from it.

Thank you for the insightful, helpful and sometimes humorous posts you’ve put up on your own blogs.

Thank you for your support, well wishes and occasionally pointing out my typos.

Thank you, new followers, for stopping by and coming back.

Thank you, longer-time followers, for keeping up this long.

Readership of any size is a privilege, not a right. And I appreciate you.

Now for what I’m thankful for on my side of the keyboard.

I’m thankful that I didn’t die this past March. And that I live so close to a hospital.

I’m thankful for my amazing husband and kitty, who make my heart smile every day. And bring me food.

I’m thankful for my healthcare. ‘Nuff said.

I’m thankful for my job, which has allowed me to work and recover at home.

I’m thankful for a wonderful mother-in-law, who will stay at our place for two weeks to babysit our kitty while we go on vacation.

I’m thankful I get to write for a living; not everyone gets to.

I’m thankful for my love of books; not sure where I’d be without them.

I’m thankful for my teddy bear, who understands when no one else does.

I’m thankful for LOLcats, and the fact that there’s one for every occasion.

I’m thankful for a warm, safe place to sleep at night, and for food in my home.

I’m thankful for my car, which runs perfectly and is totally paid off.

I’m thankful for friends who have been there for me, if only to keep me company via text.

I’m thankful for my blog, my tiny corner of the web-o-sphere, where I can write when I can.

Thank you.

Whatever your political views, religion, background, country, age, race, orientation, stance on the Oxford comma or favorite Harry Potter character—you are welcome here. And you are appreciated.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I hope you have a good one.

(Providing, of course, that you celebrate Thanksgiving but if you don’t that’s okay, too. No pressure. Or judgement. Although you’re missing out on a terrific excuse to stuff yourself full of pie. Actually, feel free to stuff yourself full of pie no matter what day it is, even if you don’t observe Thanksgiving, because pie is awesome. Also: check with your doctor to make sure you’re allowed to eat pie. Stay healthy. Fingers crossed that you can eat pie. If you want to. Okay, I’ve gotten off track, but hopefully you get the idea.)