Gratitude

I love thanksgiving!

Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, to write down everything I am thankful for is impossible. The list would be so incredibly long that I would die from hunger before I finished; especially considering that I have not eaten breakfast yet.

Therefore, I've decided to do an abbreviated list focusing on why I am thankful to be at my house, as opposed to still being at school.

1. Better quality toilet paper: I never realized that I missed it until I used the bathroom and my fingers weren't slightly damp afterwards.
2. A fully equipped kitchen: butter knifes and itty bitty sauce pans have their limits, but my Mom's kitchen?  Anything is possible there!
3. My own room: no, I did not get dressed right after getting out of the shower yesterday.  I laid under the covers and watched a TV show for two hours instead.  Perhaps I shouldn't have said that, but when some one you hardly know catches you naked, it makes being naked in your room a little less comforting.  Unless, of course, they have seen you naked since you/they were born (i.e. my mom, my sisters etc) 
4. A comfy couch: the stupid couches at school have hard backs and solid arm rests, but real couches in real houses are much more squishy.
5. One toilet, one shower, one sink, one person: I really love the girls on my floor, but did you ever want to brush your teeth alone?  Call me crazy, but sometimes I do. 
6. Hand Towels: students at colleges across the country use so many paper towels in all of their bathrooms.  I wash my hands, I dry them with the paper towels.  I wash my face, I dry them with the paper towels. I spill stuff on the floor, I dry it with paper towels.  I need tissue paper to wrap a present in, I use paper towels.  SO MANY DEAD TREES!
7. Hugs: family gives hugs all the time, without the awkward "who's on top?" and "I don't like touch" problems.  I am certain I do not get enough hugs at school, and it is bad for my health.
8. Predictable "floormates": yesterday, my little sister came into my room.  She set her scarf on my desk and her coffee on my window sill.  Despite her promise to remember both when she left, I still bet against her.  As predicted, both the coffee and scarf were there long after she left.  It is comforting to know the habits of the people around you.
9. Friendly Fire: as in, fighting-my-littlest-sister-tooth-and-nail-for-the-chocolate-that-I-stole-from-her-because-if-I-didn't-steal-hers-first-she-might-have-stolen-mine-and-I-wanted-to-win.  Considering I enjoyed two truffles compared to her single piece, I consider myself victorious.
10. Mediation: when two of the sisters start fighting, without fail the third, and/or fourth, will step up to try and stop the argument.  No one came to my rescue when my roommate-whom-I-love-so-much was sitting on me the other day. (POST-PUBLICATION EDIT: My roommate whom-I-love-so-much would like me to add that I was sittng on her pillows, therefore deserving of being sat on.  I, on the other hand, would like to add that she took my keys and phone, which is I why sat on her pillows)
11. The Wii: that's right, a video game system.  Granted, we've only got two racing games, Super Mario Bros, Wii Fit, Wii Sport, and Wii Sport Resort, but that sister I fought tooth and nail for chocolate?  Well, I get to blow her up, push her off cliffs, stab her with a sword, and bounce of her head as much as I darn well please.  Or, if we are so inclined, work with her to beat up on everyone else.
12. A toaster that toasts evenly: I'm so tired of burnt toast.
13. My Doggie: always wanting affection, always giving affection.
14. Parents: they are among my favorite people in the world and I much prefer talking to them face to face.  Facebook chats and phone calls are in no way comparable to real life conversation. Not to mention my Mom is a fantastic inspiration, and my Dad can fix anything, even my hurting relationships.
15. Grandparents: especially those that call me Rachel Elf and tell me how proud they are of me and feed me Elf food when I help them do holiday things.  Oh, and then there's the Grandma who makes macaroni and cheese with bacon, and does anything sewing-related that I ask for.  I'm a pretty lucky girl!

Cliche?  Perhaps.  But I'm thankful for all of it anyway.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!