What I Am Thankful For...

There are so many things for which to be thankful, and I don't know quite where to start.

I am thankful for all the friends that I have made as a blogger, though things have been hectic lately, and I haven't had much of a chance to respond to comments like I would like, you guys make my day when you read my blog, leave comments, and send me emails.  I am very thankful that I have made some wonderful friends while I have been blogging.

I am also thankful for having the opportunity to teach.  Though my high school students may stress me out at times, and the job does not pay that much, I still love to teach.  I am thankful for the rare occasions when the students show a little appreciation for what I am doing.  Often it comes from their parents who tell me how much their kid talks about my class and how much they enjoy it, even though I don't see the same thing out of their children, it's nice to know that I can make a difference.

I am thankful for my friends that I have met since moving back and for the friends that I am able to keep in touch with from grad school. They are an important part of life and it's nice to have someone to talk to about school, life, etc.

I am thankful for my family.  With my grandfather's passing over a week ago now, the importance of family becomes even more apparent.  This Thanksgiving will be a little sad without him, since it will be the first I remember without him, but as a family we will pull through.

I am also thankful for the small group of close friends who I have been able to come out to since I moved back home and back in the closet.  Those friends mean the world to me, because they get to see the real me. There is no hiding who I am.  I can be me and that is a wonderful feeling.  In rural America, there can be so few gay people, and it can be quite lonely.  However, with a few who I can be open and honest with, it makes the loneliness a little easier.

I am also thankful that on the 30th of this month, I will have another birthday.  Some people fret over being a year older, but I like being a year older a lot better than the alternative.  I am thankful for my health and for the fact that I live in a country where each year I get older the GLBT community continues to gain the rights and struggles for equality that we deserve.

There is so much to be thankful for, but these are the big ones.  For each of you...

Thank you for being a friend

Traveled down the road and back again

Your heart is true, your a pal and a confidant.

And if you threw a party

Invited everyone you ever knew

You would see, the biggest gift would be from me

And the card attached would say, thank you for being a friend.

I have to also mention that I am thankful for my loyal companion, HRH, the Queen.  She may be one of the moodiest cats that I have ever known, but she truly is a wonderful and loving companion.