A home I’ve enjoyed — in safety and silence — for 22 years, shared for the past 11 years with my sweetie-turned-husband
Our unimpeded and unchanging view, looking northwest, of the Hudson River
Clean, fresh running water available 24/7
The same access to electricity and heat
A life free of violence or threat
Being able to earn a living in my own home in peace and quiet
My lovely husband, Jose
A perfect fall wedding this year in Toronto, surrounded by dear friends and close family
Savings
Our good health
His staff job, (and its benefits), which he still enjoys
My Dad’s good health and vigor, still racing around in his black sports car at 82
His partner, who is gentle, loving and smart
Her kids, who we’ve gotten to know a bit, even though they live far away in Seattle and Hong Kong
Good neighbors
Strong and lasting friendships, some going back to childhood
Work that I enjoy and clients who appreciate my skills
Quick and easy access to an excellent hospital, 10 minutes up the road
Good physicians (and health insurance)
Terrific physical therapists who have helped me rehab from three surgeries, so far, with the biggest soon to come
The health, strength and means to travel
The wisdom, advice and comfort of colleagues who also write or freelance for a living
Living in a town so pretty and charming it’s been used as the backdrop to a number of films, including The Good Shepherd, Mona Lisa Smile, The Preacher’s Wife and Purple Rose of Cairo
A hard-working agent
The fact my new book, “Malled: My Unintentional Career in Retail”, is in development as a possible sitcom for CBS
Invitations to address retail executives at three conferences, so far, offering my thoughts on how best to hire and manage low-wage workers — a chance for a bully pulpit
Editors who value what I offer them, both my ideas and how I shape them
Smart, fun readers like you who (yay!) come by to visit and chat from all over the world, whether Scotland, France, Canada or Australia.
Thank you for making Broadside a part of your life!
What are you giving thanks for this Thanksgiving?
Broadside 
I’m thankful for all those things you listed, and more. I think that is awesome that your book is in development for a sitcom on CBS,I think that’s so awesome!
I love your list too, Caitlin! I especially like your “strong friendships, some which stretch back to childhood.” I have the same thing, and it’s really something special. And, congrats on MALLED being considered for a CBS sitcom! You’ll have to keep me in the loop and let me know how that goes. 🙂
Thanks!
What a gorgeous post! We forget (often because of the day-to-day drudgery of our lives) that we have a lot to be thankful for. The lottery of location means that we aren’t born in a developing world where life has no value. For that I’m grateful every day.
Thanks.
I would disagree that “life has no value” for those in developing nations. I think it has as much value to everyone as it does for us, but living on $2/day, as millions do, is crazily difficult. The disproportionate distribution of wealth and resources is shocking to me, here and abroad.
I should have been more specific. In many parts of Asia, where I have travelled extensively, life is hard, and there is much poverty, for example, Vietnam. However, the people are happy and work hard to provide for their families. There is an industrious joy there. When I was thinking of developing nations I meant Africa specifically, and the many nations that live under dictators and warlords, and are subject to civil war and genocide. It has been documented time and again that human life is perceived as having no real value in those particular places.
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