What I am thinking about today is gratitude. I have so damn much of it.

Reading a fabulous book – “Lost Connections” – at one point the author, citing recent stats, says that the majority of Americans don’t have even one friend they can call on no matter what. As I scrambled up Mount Benson today, I starting counting and got as far as 12 when I stopped.

Really – I have at least 12 people who I know will be there for me.

Gratitude.

Also – so grateful for my health – yes, my throat is scratchy today and I’m not in top form, but I got myself up Mount Benson on the Climber’s Route – and let me tell you, the top was cold as ice with huge winds (notice how straight the flag is in the last photo – only a good ripping wind will do that!) and snow.

But I got myself to the top without seeing a single person – then back down the Te’Tuxw’Tun route, where I got out of the cloud and wind and the sun was shining again.

More gratitude: I got home and Paul offered to change out my tires for me. I wish I could have taken him up on it but one of my rims is busted and I need a new one. Still, he lugged them all into my car and I’m ready to head to Kal Tire tomorrow.

Gratitude: for my warm home and my sweetie of a dog and for my early morning phone call – a man shouting “Ich Liebe Dich!” down the line. Because, as we all know, life is short so you should tell people that you love them -but it’s also confusing and terrifying so you should shout it at them in German.

So yeah – I’m grateful for that too.

My gratitude goes on and on – little things and big things – grateful for my hot bubble bath and for Kathleen putting up with me again next week and for seeing Cathy and Nancy and Annette this Sunday (!!!!!) and for every breath I take.