Pat Bean's blog

I'm thankful for hiking trails. Pictured above is the Franconia Notch Flume Trail in New Hampshire. -- Photo by Pat Bean

100 Things for which I’m Thankful – In No Particular Order

1. Belly laughs
2. The sound of rain pinging on my RV roof
3. Family, which these days include five awesome children, 15 delightful grandchildren and three perfect great grandchildren.
4. My black cocker spaniel, Maggie, who curls up with me on cold nights.
5. Rich African coffee heavily laced with cream
6. Scenic byways
7. Cool nights that let me snuggle beneath a soft quilt
8. Good health – and hope I can say this for many more years
9. Hearty hugs from people who mean it
10. A good massage from a woman with magic fingers
11. Being a writer
12. My association with the women of Story Circle Network
13. A good haircut
14. Scenic hiking trails
15. Achievements of my kids, grandkids and friends
16. My zest for life
17. Walking barefoot on a sandy beach
18. Learning something new
19. The flash of sun illuminating the tail feathers of an overhead red-tailed hawk
20. Hot baths
21. My new Kindle
22. Ibuprofen for strained muscles
23. Discovering a new author I like
24. Taking a grandchild on their first roller coaster ride
25. Watching fall redress the trees
26. Van Gogh paintings
27. Butterflies
28. My computer and the Internet
29. Maggie’s quirky personality
30. Rainbows
31. Living in America where a woman can safely travel alone
32. Sunrises and sunsets
33. Funky, dangling earrings that belie my age
34. Bra-less days
35. Summers not spent in Texas
36. Good memories of my mother
37. Old friends and new friends
38. A field of wildflowers
39. Reese”s peanut butter cups
40. The wind blowing through my hair
41. My daily walks with Maggie
42. Hot soup on a cold day
43. A wee-morning hours chatter with a long-time girlfriend over Jack Daniels and coke.
44. A daughter-in-law guardian angel who keeps track of my travels, forwards my mail and supplies me with my favorite coffee
45. The honking of geese as they fly overhead
46. Lake reflections
47. Family meals eaten around a table
48. My curiosity
49. Comfortable shoes
50. America, the beautiful
51. Clean showers in RV parks
52. Electricity
53. My bicycle
54. People who care deeply about something
55. The wolf’s return to Yellowstone
56. The journey between destinations
57. A comfortable bed and a perfect pillow
58. WordPress for hosting this blog
59. New white sox
60. Water in all its forms
61. Scented candles
62. A sky full of stars
63. Glasses that allow me to read
64. Pleasant surprises
65. An honest politician
66. Birdwatching with my birdwatching son
67. Evenings spent around a campfire
68. Good Sam emergency services
69. A Jack in the Box chocolate shake, which I only discovered this year
70. Nice and Easy, No. 99 – so I can forever be a blonde
71. Coyote howls
72. Wrinkle-free clothing
73. Gentle dentists
74. My independence
75. The fragrant scent of a blooming gardenia bush, which always reminds me of my grandmother
76. The diversity I find in people watching
77. Large, gnarly live oak trees
78. Audible books
79. Maps
80. A good editor
81. Books with satisfying endings
82. The strong women of the past who fought so I could vote
83. A cup of Earl Grey tea
84. The color turquoise
85. Boat rides
86. Antibiotics and vaccinations
87. Smiles
88. A frisky squirrel in a tree outside my RV
89. Guided trolley tours
90. My point and shoot digital camera
91. Washers and dryers
92. Blank journals
93. A shady RV camp site beside a small lake
94. A hearty 11 a.m. breakfast for lunch
95. The music of a humpback whale
96. Stained glass windows
97. That there are still plenty of birds to add to my life list
98. Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman Hear Me Roar”
99. The family computer nerds who get the bugs out of my laptop
100. Readers of my blog