give thanks

for Thor and chai
and a challenged brother who's becoming a cool dude
for chocolate and healing
and the right to pursue joy
for more than I deserve
and sunsets and ice days in the South
for friends and enemies to love
and tomorrow always being a new day

for the freedom to choose
and not being free from the consequences of those choices
for a life not as hard as some
but one still worth considering
for bubble bath and girly things
and people who provide shelter and dignity for others
for art and speaking for those who have no words
and those who understand

for hope and whimsy to hold back the dark
and a mom who is slowly, gracefully fading
for twinkle lights and ceremony
and the comfort of a good conversation
for the space to scream and cry and hurt
and the knowledge that's not where I live
for today
for tomorrow
for all the times I forgot to say it

I give thanks.