For chosen family
On the 25th day, I am grateful for chosen family. Renee and I have some friends in Raleigh named Karen and Toney who are retired jewelers, and they have had a life full of adventures. As a result, they have…
Hugh's Blog
Hopeful in spite of the facts
Hugh's Blog
Hopeful in spite of the facts
Category Gratitude
For childhood memories of Thanksgiving
On the 24th day, I’m grateful for childhood memories of Thanksgiving. Until the age of 12 or so, we spent every Thanksgiving at my uncle’s house in Memphis. He was my Dad’s half-brother, from my grandmother’s first marriage, and he…
Our yard
On the 23rd day, I’m grateful for our yard. By the time I was born, we still had 33 acres of land from the original 120, the difference having been sold off in crisis sized increments over the decades before…
For my friends who are atheists.
On the 22nd day, I’m grateful for my friends who are atheists. Growing up, I never knew any atheists. Literally everyone in my world was a low-church protestant. Well, the rich people we knew went to the Episcopalian church 10…
For reliable, safe cars.
On the 21st day, I’m grateful for our safe, reliable cars. In January of 2009 I was living in a small attic apartment near downtown in Raleigh, NC. I think my rent was $400 a month. I was not yet…
For our neighborhood grocery stores.
On the 29th day, I’m grateful we live near great grocery stores, and I’m able to afford to buy the food we need. In 1958, when my dad was 7 years old, his dad died, leaving my grandmother, a 47-year-old…
Friends from other religions
On the 19th day, I am grateful for friends who practice other religions and traditions, and what I have learned from them. The main street of our small town was called Church Street, and on it were the Baptist Church,…
Moving back to Mississippi.
On the 18th day, I’m grateful I got the chance to move back to Mississippi. I’m the one who left. That’s how I once overheard my parents describe me to someone – of their three kids, I’m the one who…
Things being raised evangelical gave me
On the 17th day, I’m really grateful for some of the gifts that being raised as an Evangelical gave me, even if I no longer find myself in that camp. I want to be real clear here – the evangelical…
Confidence and Curiosity
On the 16th day, I ‘m grateful for confidence and curiosity. Let me explain. As I said on day 12, my dad could do anything. Build a house, wire a lamp, fix an air conditioner, network your printer, rebuild an…