The Thankfuls

My new friend The Good Groupie posted today about three bands that she' thankful for, and it got me thinking about what I'm thankful for this year in general. It's been quite a year, and while I always have the standard friends and family thankfuls, I wanted to actually think about it a little more this year. So here's what I've come up with:

First and foremost, I am thankful for my husband. 2013 was a big year for us, getting married and all. I'll save y'all the sap, because really, who wants that, and just leave it with I am incredibly lucky woman and it feels awesome to be able to call him my husband.

I'm thankful for my job. Times are tough out there, and I'm lucky enough to have a good job that pays enough to pay the bills and mostly live the life I want. I know what it's like to not have that. I am also lucky that I don't mind going to work every day. I mean, of course I'd rather stay in bed longer, but I have a boss and coworkers and employees who make it an alright place to be.

I'm thankful that I have health insurance. It might be crap insurance, and my out of pocket costs have increased significantly this year, but its better than nothing, especially if, God forbid, something ever happens. Along those same lines, I'm thankful that I'm pretty healthy. I have my issues, who doesn't, but I am pretty lucky.

I am thankful for music, and the communities I am privileged to be a part of because of music. This goes in so many directions. I'm thankful for the band Ingram Hill, which got me into the world of independent music, and introduced me to so many good friends, and indirectly introduced me to the Rock Boat. I wouldn't have met my husband if it wasn't for Ingram Hill, in a six degrees of Kevin Bacon kind of way. The Rock Boat has given me not only some of my favorite bands, but some of my best friends. It also introduced me to turntable.fm, which sadly is dying next week, and a whole new group of music loving friends. Music brings me sanity, gives me an outlet for emotion, relaxes me when I need relaxing, cheers me up when I need cheering, occupies my time when I'm feeling bored, and I could go on and on. Basically, I have no idea who or where I would be without music.

As mentioned before, I am extremely thankful for my family and friends. I have an amazing family, and I am lucky enough to have married into an equally awesome one, one that accepted me completely from day one. I have friends all over the world that I don't get to see nearly enough, but I know that they're there for me if I need them, and no matter where I end up, whether for work or for fun, I can almost always find someone I know (usually through music!).

There are so many other things to be thankful for that I can't even begin to express. But these are the big ones. Happy Thanksgiving, and oh yeah, one other thing - thanks for reading :)