If you've been reading for a while, you'll recall that I spent most of the summer and part of the fall of 2009 without a kitchen as Neal ripped every bit of what had been out, pushed back counters, made new walls, built cabinets, and created my dream kitchen. I am still astounded that I showed my clever husband an old sugar bowl, said "I want the kitchen to look like this," and he did it.
And thankful. I am thankful for my husband's ability to use his skills and imagination to make our little yellow ranch with the orange door an adorable, sweet place to live.
I'm thankful for an abundance of food. I remember all too clearly times of living close to the financial edge, times of having one egg a day, some cereal, maybe. You probably know how that goes, too. Sometimes when I make a meal I can savor or spoil myself with an exotic piece of fruit, I stop and think what a treat this would have been in those days of struggle, and the food tastes even better.
Lately I've been thinking about my gratitude for my colleagues. Academic departments are notoriously political, and as a non-tenure faculty member, it would be easy to feel on the fringe of the department. I'm fortunate to have several colleagues who are excited to share ideas. Our job, like most, can be frustrating, can feel thankless. In those moments, it is great to have colleagues who have become friends, who can encourage, commiserate. It is nice to know that if I'm writing a new assignment or determining what to do about a plagiarism case, my colleagues are there to consult.
What are you thankful for today?
