Giving thanks today, because, seriously, life is really pretty awesome, notwithstanding the bullshit that we sometimes get distracted by, and also because someone else is making the turkey. And because I have the luxury of measuring daily happinesses against the amounts of random bullshit that I need to cope with and whether or not someone else is doing the cooking. And because the sun is shining, and my children are smiling, and those things in themselves are reason enough.

(Happy Thanksgiving from the Great And Currently Really Not All That White North.)

I’m Canadian, so I celebrated Thanksgiving weeks ago, but still, it’s hard to ignore all the cheerful goodwill and gratitude in the air when American Thanksgiving rolls around. Also, the pie. That’s all anyone has been able to talk about this week: PIE, pumpkin or otherwise. And stuffing and turkeys and liquor. Oh, and gratitude.

Gratitude, like appetite, is contagious. So, herewith, an account of my thanks, the things for which I am grateful (not, please note, in order of importance):

1.) Coffee.

2.) Coffee.

3.) Sweet things to wash down with coffee, like cake and cinnamon rolls (my December resolution: to master these and eat six of them every day) and shortbread.

4.) My husband, who has been a pillar during one of the toughest years of my life. Who is a pillar every year of my life. Who will, I know, always be a pillar in my life.

5.) My family, my mom especially, with whom I’ve been travelling the long dark road of grief, and my sister, too, because even though we’re having a tough time right now, she and I, her tough-cookieness is an important reminder that sometimes getting through the tough stuff means just sucking it up. I am grateful for the reminder that sometimes, I need to just suck it up.

6.) Ativan.

7.) Friends. And laughter. These usually go together.

8.) My dad. For having been the pillar in my life that he was, for as long as he was. For continuing to be, to me, an inspiration, and a light, and a teacher, even in death.

9.) Chocolate. And vodka. And good wine. And mediocre wine. Any wine, really.

10.) These two. My smalls. My heart, squared.

My life, a rich pageant. Not always easy, not always sweet, but always, always, rich.

For that, I am thankful.

I’m not sure, exactly, what we’re celebrating with Canadian Thanksgiving – other than, as the Act of Parliament decreed in 1957, “General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed,” which could mean anything, really. Hey God, thanks for all that maple syrup! And bacon! And stuff! – but whatever, it’s an excuse to eat pie. I like pie. So I’m taking a few days off to eat pie.

If you’re stuck for reading material during that time, you could join me in contemplating…

* Why Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.

* Why Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon has nothing on Indiana Jones.

* Why designers make ugly shoes.

* Why monsters are awesome.

* Why I’m so flummoxed about God.

* Why we need to talk about SIDS more.

* Why Gwyneth should not be a role model for anyone, at least not anyone who dresses themselves.

* Why talking about boobs and bottles can be as tricky as resolving a peace in Afghanistan.

* Which, really: what about that Nobel Peace Prize thing?

* Why gorillas are just like monkeys, but not.

See you Tuesday. Eat some pie.