Thankful

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I’ve been thinking about gratitude. I’m one of those “glass-half-full” people who likes to live in the now and focus on the future, but at times like this, a look back feels right.

It might be a cliché to be thankful for family, friends, health, and home. The horrible fires in California and the loss of life and home, however, are a reminder of how quickly both can be lost. 

Here is Washington state, our fires rarely rate a mention on even regional news. I remember the fear of watching the fires on the ridges around our mountain cabin. Packing a “go” bag for the dogs and me each night. Waiting for the firefighter’s knock, the order to “Get out.” Feeding the refuges who were burned out of other valleys and took shelter in ours. 

But we had warning, time to prepare, while the residents in Paradise had only minutes to flee.  

So today, I’m grateful for the ebb and flow of both good and bad things that have happened throughout my life. Some blessings have been given and others hard-earned. The tragic or sorrowful things have taught me resilience, faith, and provided opportunities to learn and grow. Painful losses and situations showed me by contrast how valuable and cherished the good things are. 

And the good things are wonderful. 

Next week, as I look around the chaos of my kitchen and laugh over the antics of kids and dogs, I know I’ll take time to be thankful. Thankful for family, friends, food on the table, a job I love, and the time and support to pursue creative outlets.

I leave you with a long-distance hug and a reminder… be thankful.

An award-winning author of financial mysteries, Cathy Perkins writes twisting dark suspense and light amateur sleuth stories.  When not writing, she battles with the beavers over the pond height or heads out on another travel adventure. She lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs and the resident deer herd.  Visit her at http://cperkinswrites.com or on Facebook 

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She's hard at work on sequel to The Body in the Beaver Pond, which was recently presented with the Claymore Award.