Grateful Blog

Today I’m grateful that:

• I belong to a “book club” (trust me, the quotes are appropriate) with very cool girls who can take a book seriously every once in awhile, though I’m happy to report they usually don’t take anything too seriously.
• We picked a book, “The Strength in What Remains,” that was an unbelievably inspiring story of a young man’s will to survive in the U.S. with virtually nothing. We pick lighter reading more often than not at book club, and I usually do like that, but it’s good to sprinkle in a little something serious every now and again. The book really made me grateful for the relative ease of my entire life. I appreciate reminders like that; it’s scary how easy it is to forget how good we have it. It’s kind of why I started this blog in the first place.
• My sister Heather gave me “The Strength in What Remains” for my birthday a couple of months ago. She must be psychic! And cool.

I’ve been quiet on here for the past couple of months, not because I’ve had nothing to be grateful for — quite the contrary, as always. It’s just that I’ve been very busy in work and non-work life … so I guess I’ll start there. I’m grateful that:

• Work has kept me busy in a good way recently!
• Chad started a new job a couple of weeks ago, being the (much) less boozy and adulterous version of Don Draper. I am immensely proud of him! I knew when he decided to stop working for himself as he had for the previous 10 months or so that he would have his pick of new jobs, and I think he picked a great one. Oh yea, and they offer health insurance! Holla!
• As always, I’m grateful for book club. (That’s for you, Rach.)

Today I’m grateful that:

• My friend and devoted blog-reader Rachael was born on this date 34 years ago … even if she does sometimes smother me with hugs (see evidence below — that’s me in the middle, and her on the right).

Today I’m grateful that:

• I have such a thoughtful friend (shout out, Rachael!) who appreciates the intent of my blog and gave me a wonderful gift, the book “Simple Abundance - A Daybook of Comfort and Joy” by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
• My last name is not Ban Breathnach. Capellman is hard for people to pronounce and spell properly, but I’ll take it over Ban Breathnach. Or is it just me?