Happy Thanksgiving! Today is my day to give thanks for family and friends. And, I’ll start with you, the blog readers who return time after time to read the book reviews or pieces about my travels, and, best of all, to comment and sometimes share what you’re reading. So many of you have become friends. I’m grateful that you share my interest in books. Thank you!

I’m so grateful for the gift of my wonderful family, my Mom, my sisters, Linda and Christie, and their families. I’m thankful that we all share a love of laughter, and we enjoy spending time together. I’m glad my mom and my sisters and I plan trips so we can spend a weekend or a few days together. My family means laughter and love to me. I’m so lucky to have them.

I’m thankful for the friends who adopted me, Donna and Terry Seaton. Donna and I could talk books forever. We go to movies and plays together, and analyze them afterwards. After I introduced Donna to Celtic Thunder, she shares my love of them, and of two of the performers, Byrne and Kelly. (Thank you for sharing my addiction, Donna.) And, Terry shares his extraordinary cooking gift, and all that wonderful food, including a week’s worth of leftovers. And, today, I’m spending Thanksgiving with Donna, Terry, and some of their family.

I have two friends I talk with almost every day. We talk about books, politics, travel, family, pets. There isn’t much I haven’t talked about with Kaye Wilkinson Barley and David Chaudoir. I’m so thankful they’re in my life. And, I’m grateful we can laugh together, and talk through the rough times.

I have so much to be thankful for – friends, my cats, the opportunity to travel to Paris and New York City, Phoenix and Tucson this year.

And, it wouldn’t be my blog if I didn’t say how much I love and appreciate books and authors. To the authors – I’m in awe of your creativity and the gifts of your books. Thank you.

I’m guessing if I went back and read all my Thanksgiving posts, they would sound quite similar – family, friends, books, cats, travel, laughter, love. What a wonderful life, wonderful gifts.

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. And, for those who are having a rough time this year, I hope you find moments of peace.