Happy Thanksgiving!  As for many people, it's my favorite holiday--neither patriotic nor religious and, for those of us who are lucky, with a groaning board covered with a surfeit of delicious food.

One semi-obligatory ritual is going around the table so that everyone can say what he or she is thankful for.  Jimmy Kimmel says we should all just saying 'togetherness' and then walk around the table kissing everyone on the top of the head.  It is togetherness that we all say in one form or another.  My list:

Togetherness--seriously.  Since I don't have family, it's a day to be grateful for all the friends who make up a faithful, if voluntary family.

The Internet in all its forms, which provides hours of entertainment, the means to keep in touch with friends all over the world, and ways of learning surprising new things.

MSNBC, which provides a 24-hour a day "variety" of shows with talking heads who all think like I do. 

Votrient, which, despite its unfortunate side effects, has kept me alive and kicking more than two years longer than the initial prognosis. 

My husband--and the fact that for the first time in 68 years I can say that.  Thanks to Iowa who made the marriage possible and then easy, to the friends who drove long distances to attend, and to all the well-wishers who congratulated us on our return.  Most of all, thanks to Mohamed, who continues to love and support me without ever a moment of complaint or reservation. 

The last few days have been tough ones, but it's good to take time to remember all that I have to be thankful for.

And while we're celebrating life and light, Happy Hanukkah!