Dear Hearts and Gentle People

Because I have nothing this week and am a little embarrassed by how many reruns I've posted lately, I'm going to do what my friend Nan suggested and do a gratitude list. My first thought was that I'm not feeling very grateful these days. While it's easy to be grateful sitting in church or across from grandkids at supper at Los Tres Caminos or in a car with a friend, I am daunted by ... well, I'm just daunted. My second thought was, Well, dummy, you have nothing ...

So here is my list. I'd love to know yours, too.

• I'm grateful for repetitiveness, because I like my life. I love my friends and family and my occasional view of rainbows over Bart and Ray Anne See's barn. I love that I've bought three blue Equinoxes in a row because I love my little blue cars. I love knowing what my coffee's going to taste like and that I'm going to talk a lot about being old, because, you know--

• I'm grateful for being old. For all that I've seen and done and learned. For medical care that, while it's changing in ways that are not good for many of us, can still mainly keep us comfortable and protect us from ourselves. For the memories that bring joy and quiet laughter even as I don't remember what happened yesterday and often can't get the words I need off the tip of my tongue where they seem to have taken root.

• I'm grateful for words, even the forgotten ones and the ones I likely never should have used, because they are always about the learning.

• I'm grateful for the school two miles and a bit away, where I became who I am. Where no one ever suggested that I couldn't do and be what I wanted to do and be. Where I found out about heroes and bullies, the "shamers and snots" I've written about, and that there is always someone who will help.

• I'm grateful for fall, with its colors and crunchiness and glorious scents. For apples and pumpkins and all the delights they bring.

• I'm grateful for people who care. There are a lot of you.

• I'm grateful for faith. It does indeed sustain me. And I am grateful that it is always my choice, never a government or even a social requirement.

• I'm grateful the "dear hearts and gentle people" who have been an integral part of our community my whole life. They are the helpers, the workers, the kind ones, the ones who make you laugh and sit with you when you cry.

• I'm grateful to Jeff Ward, the editor and Peru Tribune who allowed me to open the Window all those years ago. Every time I think about closing it, I remember and re-appreciate that he made that life-changing offer. And I think maybe I have a few more posts in me.

Well, I guess I'm more thankful than I realized. And I could have gone on for a while, but November's coming up sooner than we think, and with it comes 30 Days of Gratitude. I hope you join me in them and that the gratitudes come as easily as they did to me this morning.

Have a great week. Be nice to somebody.