Grateful

Along with being thankful for traditional things like my family, friends, not being dead, pie, books, pie, college basketball, and pie, I am also thankful for these things:

1. The gentle snow that is falling right now.
2. The mug of tea at my left elbow.
3. Lunch with Meredith yesterday.
4. The people who salted Route 81 last night so I made it home from NCTE safely.
5. The amazing teachers I met at NCTE. (I’ll post my last conference photos later.)
6. The fact that NCTE was my last speaking gig for three months.
7. The stack of books on my desk waiting to be read.
8. Stef and Jared arriving tonight.
9. Our house smells like pumpkin pie. (I know I mentioned pie above, but one cannot talk about it enough, IMHO.)
10. Tomorrow is my favorite holiday of the year!!!

What are you thankful for?

News flash: a moment of silence please, out of respect for the passing of Ruth Siems, the genius who invented Stove Top Stuffing.

42 Replies to “Grateful”

  1. Thanks

    I’m thankful that after several years of admiring your work, I finally got to meet you at the ALAN reception and then hear your coyote howl Tuesday.

  2. Thanks

    I’m thankful that after several years of admiring your work, I finally got to meet you at the ALAN reception and then hear your coyote howl Tuesday.

  3. Thanks

    I’m thankful that after several years of admiring your work, I finally got to meet you at the ALAN reception and then hear your coyote howl Tuesday.

  4. Re: Thanks

    Thank you!

    (I must admit, however, that the howl was not in the speech. It was one of those things that came flying out of my mouth. I spent a good part of the drive home berating myself for it. It is not exactly professional to howl in front of a large audience.)

  5. Re: Thanks

    Thank you!

    (I must admit, however, that the howl was not in the speech. It was one of those things that came flying out of my mouth. I spent a good part of the drive home berating myself for it. It is not exactly professional to howl in front of a large audience.)

  6. Re: Thanks

    Thank you!

    (I must admit, however, that the howl was not in the speech. It was one of those things that came flying out of my mouth. I spent a good part of the drive home berating myself for it. It is not exactly professional to howl in front of a large audience.)

  7. Re: Thanks

    Ha! It was wonderful! And funny.

    Annette Curtis Klause followed you after lunch and did a howl. Yours sounded much more authentic (no disrespect to Annette).

  8. Re: Thanks

    Ha! It was wonderful! And funny.

    Annette Curtis Klause followed you after lunch and did a howl. Yours sounded much more authentic (no disrespect to Annette).

  9. Re: Thanks

    Ha! It was wonderful! And funny.

    Annette Curtis Klause followed you after lunch and did a howl. Yours sounded much more authentic (no disrespect to Annette).

  10. Everytime I see your icon, I think of my gym teachers on the sidelines telling us to run faster. I’m thankful school is out for the week.

  11. Everytime I see your icon, I think of my gym teachers on the sidelines telling us to run faster. I’m thankful school is out for the week.

  12. Everytime I see your icon, I think of my gym teachers on the sidelines telling us to run faster. I’m thankful school is out for the week.

  13. I’m thankful for loving words and books. And warm sweaters. And the lack of school for three days. And that I got to spend my entire afternoon in a bookstore.
    By the way, thanks for your amazing book recommendations. I was thirsty for more books (I’ve read all yours :P) and you gave me a great list.

  14. I’m thankful for loving words and books. And warm sweaters. And the lack of school for three days. And that I got to spend my entire afternoon in a bookstore.
    By the way, thanks for your amazing book recommendations. I was thirsty for more books (I’ve read all yours :P) and you gave me a great list.

  15. I’m thankful for loving words and books. And warm sweaters. And the lack of school for three days. And that I got to spend my entire afternoon in a bookstore.
    By the way, thanks for your amazing book recommendations. I was thirsty for more books (I’ve read all yours :P) and you gave me a great list.

  16. What am I thankful for?

    I’m thankful for seeing my mom yesterday. For my amazing best friends. For Sounds of the Season on Comcast. For making a long-time traditional food for the first time. For my family all being in good health for tomorrow. For Daddy’s pumpkin pie (I’ll eat a slice for you). For staying safe in home for the first snow of the season tonight. For fireplaces. For sweatpants. For football. For telephones making us seem closer.

    For love.

  17. What am I thankful for?

    I’m thankful for seeing my mom yesterday. For my amazing best friends. For Sounds of the Season on Comcast. For making a long-time traditional food for the first time. For my family all being in good health for tomorrow. For Daddy’s pumpkin pie (I’ll eat a slice for you). For staying safe in home for the first snow of the season tonight. For fireplaces. For sweatpants. For football. For telephones making us seem closer.

    For love.

  18. What am I thankful for?

    I’m thankful for seeing my mom yesterday. For my amazing best friends. For Sounds of the Season on Comcast. For making a long-time traditional food for the first time. For my family all being in good health for tomorrow. For Daddy’s pumpkin pie (I’ll eat a slice for you). For staying safe in home for the first snow of the season tonight. For fireplaces. For sweatpants. For football. For telephones making us seem closer.

    For love.

  19. what i’m thankful for

    i’m thankful for being able to keep in touch with you:-), having great friends, having a loving family, and the snow that carlisle’s supposed to get tomorrow. -ash:-)

  20. what i’m thankful for

    i’m thankful for being able to keep in touch with you:-), having great friends, having a loving family, and the snow that carlisle’s supposed to get tomorrow. -ash:-)

  21. what i’m thankful for

    i’m thankful for being able to keep in touch with you:-), having great friends, having a loving family, and the snow that carlisle’s supposed to get tomorrow. -ash:-)

  22. Re: What am I thankful for?

    What could be better than sitting in front of the fireplace in your sweatpants eating pumpkin pie while watching football with your friends and family?? NOTHING! Thanksgiving has got to be the best holiday EVER! I’m also thankful for the BENGALS! Oh, how I love living in Cincinnati during football season! I’m thankful for creative writing, Teacher Academy, English, FEA and also the feeling of anticipation as I await the verdict of my sent application to Miami University!

    oh, and I love me some Turkey and leftovers!

    Hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving!

    Billie

  23. Re: What am I thankful for?

    What could be better than sitting in front of the fireplace in your sweatpants eating pumpkin pie while watching football with your friends and family?? NOTHING! Thanksgiving has got to be the best holiday EVER! I’m also thankful for the BENGALS! Oh, how I love living in Cincinnati during football season! I’m thankful for creative writing, Teacher Academy, English, FEA and also the feeling of anticipation as I await the verdict of my sent application to Miami University!

    oh, and I love me some Turkey and leftovers!

    Hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving!

    Billie

  24. Re: What am I thankful for?

    What could be better than sitting in front of the fireplace in your sweatpants eating pumpkin pie while watching football with your friends and family?? NOTHING! Thanksgiving has got to be the best holiday EVER! I’m also thankful for the BENGALS! Oh, how I love living in Cincinnati during football season! I’m thankful for creative writing, Teacher Academy, English, FEA and also the feeling of anticipation as I await the verdict of my sent application to Miami University!

    oh, and I love me some Turkey and leftovers!

    Hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving!

    Billie

  25. thankful for…

    I’m thankful that no matter how lost I get over someone who will not be there in the long run,I have people with me who ARE going to be there, who will either help me find my way again or be there with me, looking perplexedly at the map, saying, “Jeez, we TOTALLY have no idea where we are this time!”
    I’m thankful that you can’t really die of embarrassment (although sometimes that would be easier).
    I’m thankful for my good education (which has led to…)
    I’m thankful for my love of reading (which has led to…)
    I’m thankful for Laurie Halse Anderson’s awesome books! 🙂
    I’m thankful that excellent pie-making skills run in my mother’s family!

  26. thankful for…

    I’m thankful that no matter how lost I get over someone who will not be there in the long run,I have people with me who ARE going to be there, who will either help me find my way again or be there with me, looking perplexedly at the map, saying, “Jeez, we TOTALLY have no idea where we are this time!”
    I’m thankful that you can’t really die of embarrassment (although sometimes that would be easier).
    I’m thankful for my good education (which has led to…)
    I’m thankful for my love of reading (which has led to…)
    I’m thankful for Laurie Halse Anderson’s awesome books! 🙂
    I’m thankful that excellent pie-making skills run in my mother’s family!

  27. thankful for…

    I’m thankful that no matter how lost I get over someone who will not be there in the long run,I have people with me who ARE going to be there, who will either help me find my way again or be there with me, looking perplexedly at the map, saying, “Jeez, we TOTALLY have no idea where we are this time!”
    I’m thankful that you can’t really die of embarrassment (although sometimes that would be easier).
    I’m thankful for my good education (which has led to…)
    I’m thankful for my love of reading (which has led to…)
    I’m thankful for Laurie Halse Anderson’s awesome books! 🙂
    I’m thankful that excellent pie-making skills run in my mother’s family!

  28. thankful

    I’m thankful for my family, friends, books, Twizzlers, writing, teachers, English class, tea, school, and running. And lots of other things, of course. But those are the ones right off the top of my head. 😉

  29. thankful

    I’m thankful for my family, friends, books, Twizzlers, writing, teachers, English class, tea, school, and running. And lots of other things, of course. But those are the ones right off the top of my head. 😉

  30. thankful

    I’m thankful for my family, friends, books, Twizzlers, writing, teachers, English class, tea, school, and running. And lots of other things, of course. But those are the ones right off the top of my head. 😉

  31. Getting to see all 3 of my brothers soon.
    Peace and quiet for a couple days.
    Good movies, books, poetry and music.
    Caring friends.
    Medication, tea and cigarettes (sad but true).

  32. Getting to see all 3 of my brothers soon.
    Peace and quiet for a couple days.
    Good movies, books, poetry and music.
    Caring friends.
    Medication, tea and cigarettes (sad but true).

  33. Getting to see all 3 of my brothers soon.
    Peace and quiet for a couple days.
    Good movies, books, poetry and music.
    Caring friends.
    Medication, tea and cigarettes (sad but true).

  34. I just found your LJ, and wanted to say hello and let you know you had a new reader. I love your books… I picked up SPEAK and CATALYST on audio, and listen to them both at least once or twice a year in the car. I work at a bookstore, so I pimp your books every chance I get. I know every little bit helps. :>

    Oh, and I like pie.

    That’s about it for the moment.

    -Michael

  35. I just found your LJ, and wanted to say hello and let you know you had a new reader. I love your books… I picked up SPEAK and CATALYST on audio, and listen to them both at least once or twice a year in the car. I work at a bookstore, so I pimp your books every chance I get. I know every little bit helps. :>

    Oh, and I like pie.

    That’s about it for the moment.

    -Michael

  36. I just found your LJ, and wanted to say hello and let you know you had a new reader. I love your books… I picked up SPEAK and CATALYST on audio, and listen to them both at least once or twice a year in the car. I work at a bookstore, so I pimp your books every chance I get. I know every little bit helps. :>

    Oh, and I like pie.

    That’s about it for the moment.

    -Michael

  37. I’m thankful I found this (your journal/website). It makes me feel suddenly very close to you (not in a bad way). I mean, I’ve admired your work for years, and I’ve read EVERYTHING of yours, and now I finally get to read your personal thoughts! =) You’re a major role model to me, and I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am for YOU. Have a great Thanksgiving. =) ~Isabel

  38. I’m thankful I found this (your journal/website). It makes me feel suddenly very close to you (not in a bad way). I mean, I’ve admired your work for years, and I’ve read EVERYTHING of yours, and now I finally get to read your personal thoughts! =) You’re a major role model to me, and I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am for YOU. Have a great Thanksgiving. =) ~Isabel

  39. I’m thankful I found this (your journal/website). It makes me feel suddenly very close to you (not in a bad way). I mean, I’ve admired your work for years, and I’ve read EVERYTHING of yours, and now I finally get to read your personal thoughts! =) You’re a major role model to me, and I just wanted to tell you how thankful I am for YOU. Have a great Thanksgiving. =) ~Isabel

  40. Thankful for…

    The 45$ gift card I will get today, at work.
    My children wowing their grandparents over the weekend.
    A husband who loves me and goes out of his way to show it.
    A church where we feel so at home.
    Happy healthy boys.
    David saying, “I want my mama.” at only 17 months old.
    Not having to work Black Friday OR Christmas Eve.
    My mother who gives until she has nothing left and then gives more.

    Gosh, this list could go on forever. I am a lucky lucky lady.

  41. Thankful for…

    The 45$ gift card I will get today, at work.
    My children wowing their grandparents over the weekend.
    A husband who loves me and goes out of his way to show it.
    A church where we feel so at home.
    Happy healthy boys.
    David saying, “I want my mama.” at only 17 months old.
    Not having to work Black Friday OR Christmas Eve.
    My mother who gives until she has nothing left and then gives more.

    Gosh, this list could go on forever. I am a lucky lucky lady.

  42. Thankful for…

    The 45$ gift card I will get today, at work.
    My children wowing their grandparents over the weekend.
    A husband who loves me and goes out of his way to show it.
    A church where we feel so at home.
    Happy healthy boys.
    David saying, “I want my mama.” at only 17 months old.
    Not having to work Black Friday OR Christmas Eve.
    My mother who gives until she has nothing left and then gives more.

    Gosh, this list could go on forever. I am a lucky lucky lady.

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