It’s Thanksgiving in Emporia. That means everything is closed. Everything. Store owners hung cute signs saying “We’re closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday to give our employees time with their families” because they value family over extra profits. The holiday wreaths are lining Commercial Street lampposts, and I feel a nip in the air.

Here’s a cool song by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes: “One love to another”

I’ll make this short so you can go back to eating that turkey leg.

I’m thankful for:

• The warm dog by my side (who lived through the night, thank you)
• Patient, loving family
• The poached egg on my plate
• My cozy apartment (first place I’ve had to myself)
• The friends coming to spend Thanksgiving with me (Tai and Bill!)
• A workplace that celebrates the hallowed Bacon Day

• Creativity I can grow through music and writing
• Living in a cool country
• British accents
• Harry Potter

• Chocolate pie
• Cute clothes
• Telling people’s stories every day through my job
• The feeling of confidence and comfort in my own skin
• A town that’s sweet and traditional, yet growing each day

• My stellar taste in music
• My guitar
• My camera
• The TV without cable for which I will one day buy a DVD player
• Netflix on my laptop!
• Modern medicine
• The fact that I’m not a Scottish barbarian who has to kill Longshanks to survive

• Friends who live in other cities, other states and other countries, yet still keep a relationship with me alive
• Native Americans
• Trees
• Being barefoot
• The ability to put myself in someone else’s shoes

• A candle that smells like leather, tobacco and woods
• Lord of the Rings
• Forgiveness and stuff
• Good food
• The ability to love
• The fact that most problems eventually turn into something good

Comment here or on Facebook: What are you thankful for?