A Few of My Thankfulness Things (Don't Read Anything Into the Order, Please)

1. The whole extended family continues to be upright and taking nourishment
2. The lousy economy has so far had a limited impact on my family and parishoners, although we're all thankful we're not retiring right now. Our prayers go out to those who haven't sailed as smoothly.
3. Daughter has passed the 32 week mark in the Grandchild Production Department. That's a significant mile-marker, and I'm grateful.
4. While two of my parishoners are on deployment, one will be home with his family for Thanksgiving. The other has had some remarkable experiences in southern Iraq, like visiting Ur and the traditional site of Abraham's home. And he should be with his family next Thanksgiving.
5. The Red Sox haven't done anything stupid yet in the free agent market.
6. There has been an absolutely wonderful run of books published this fall. Titles include: John Meacham's American Lion; Andrew Bacevich's The Limits of Power; Artie Lange's Too Fat to Fish (not a biography of me, and most certainly R-rated), Kathleen Norris' Acedia and Me; Carlo D'Este's Warlord (a study of Churchill's career in warfare); Detlev Claussen's bio of T.W. Adorno, One Last Genius; Richard Cook's Alfred Kazin; and Ingrid Rowland's Giordano Bruno: Philosopher and Heretic. There are others; those should hold you.
7. Sudoku, Sudoku, Sudoku! (Thanks to the older niece for explaining the darned things to me)
8. New music from John Hiatt, Jackson Browne, Lindsay Buckingham and B.B. King that proved that the old guys have a little something left. And from Jakob Dylan, that reminds this old guy that younger guys have something to say, too.
9. And speaking of old guys and young Dylan, The Return of the Theme Time Radio Hour with your host, Bob Dylan! Season Three seems even better than the first two.
10. The Eagles' latest tour. I'm in good with The Roommate for, probably, two or three months. Thanks, guys!
Since Dave limits himself to a Top 10 every night, I'll stop there. But there could surely be a great deal more. And it's very appropriate to have a little gratitude about life. So, Thanks, Boss!