Happy Thanksgiving!

Last year, I 'inherited' cooking Thanksgiving dinner from my mom. A few years ago, I suggested maybe I should take it over, and was met with stone-cold silence. Then last year, Mom decided she'd had enough. And so, it became my holiday.

This year, with my mom being sick (she's in the hospital right now. Keep your fingers crossed she's actually home in time for tomorrow,  but it isn't looking so good right now,) the entire family is gathering at my house for dinner. A dozen people. It's going to be crazy.

But at the same time, it'll be a good kind of crazy. Despite the less-than-ideal circumstance, I'm looking forward to having all of us here. My aunt and uncle are coming down from upstate New York, and since they never come down for Thanksgiving, I'm really looking forward to seeing them.

It's been a rough year for my family. My mom was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in July. She's been through two rounds of radiation and will start a third round soon, she's been hospitalized four times, spent six weeks in a rehab facility, and was admitted again to the hospital on Sunday morning. As I said, we're hoping to have her home for tomorrow, but it isn't looking too good.

But, I'm thankful that she's still here, with us. I'm thankful that, professionally speaking, it's been a good year for me. I've contracted five books, with four of them since July. It's kept me busy, and considering how my year's been, busy has been good.

What about you? As you sit down to Thanksgiving - what are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Stay safe and don't OD on the turkey!