Birthday Gratitude List

1. Mr. Thrifty, who shares this birthday with me and who has taught me to think about money before I spend it (happy birthday, honey!)
2. My step-children, Adam and Julia, who were all grown up and educated by the time I met them, so "step-children" seems a misnomer.  They are gracious, kind, loving, and better Scrabble, Boggle and Uno players than I (damn them!)  They have taught me how to be part of a family and I am everlastingly grateful for their presence in my life.  
3. The extraordinary support and guidance from people too numerous to name when I changed careers from litigator to mediator. 
4. Being given the opportunity (by fate and by Mr. Thrifty) to finally make my passion my career.
5. Sobriety (13 years! hence the 4,745 gratitude lists).
6. Friends.
7. Poetry and literature.
8. The internet.
9. The geo-political challenges of the 21st century (we wouldn't want to get bored).
10. All my blogging buddies.