The Crackle of an Open Fire....

As I sit here listening to the fire in my fire place crackle, I realize how lucky I am. I live in East Tennessee, and it is one of the most magnificent places in the fall, year round really, but I'm partial to the fall. Outside of my kitchen window, I can see a tree in the yard of a neighbor catty corner from me. It's a huge tree that looks as if someone has taken a paint brush and lightly colored the outer leaves in special spots with hints of orange and red.

Earlier in the evening, I walked my dog Nikki and relished in the changing colors of the trees in my neighborhood. Fall, as in the last few years, has come slowly. Cooler weather has only come to East Tennessee in this last week when it used to arrive in early September, and the colors are changing slowly. But the air was cool and crisp and not nearly as cold as last night. The smells of fireplaces already lit hang in my neighborhood like a long lost friend, nudging me to add mine to the bouquet.

A neighborhood boy of about 8 and his friend were looking for a lost puppy. I stopped and talked to them for a few minutes. He was sharing a review of a television show that I was not familiar with. He went on and on, and I really didn't know what he was talking about, but I tried to nod my head and make appropriate comments so as to not hurt his feelings and show interest. That's one of the reasons I love walking Nikki,\ -- I get to see who lives in my neighborhood and what their lives are like. As a "recovering journalist," I can't help but be curious.

During my walk, I thought about the elements that bring grace to my life, and I was grateful. My community, though hurting from the economic downward spiral, is not in as bad of shape as other communities. I have a job that I enjoy, and it seems stable. I have the companionship of my animals: two dogs, Nikki and Velvet, and two cats, Cody and Oop, and I am fortunate to live in a great neighborhood.

I'm not a Pollyanna; I face difficulties just as the next person. But there are times, when I need to feel grateful about my life, and this is one of them. It reminds me when I'm feeling down, that in spite of problems and difficulties, I have a good life.

What do you appreciate?