14/90, many thanks

Today, I decided to take note of all the things that I am thankful for. I jotted them down as they happened.

1. Perfect Binding: the sound of it when a book is opened for the first time, the crinkle of the spine when you pull the cover back, the tension against your hands as it wills itself shut, the scent of glue that grows stronger until it changes to the scent of must and yellow
2. PayDays: not regular ones, but the snack-sized ones that I can say are a source of protein and two hours of energy; the ones that the Career Center of my university has scattered at displays around campus to advertise their career fair (clever, really)
3. Google Books: the reason that I can write my footnotes on 18th century French literature from my bed
4. Valentine's Day Cards: one from my mom, one from my fiancé's mom; both sealed with a ton of love and fear that I'm stressing too much; both waiting for me on the dining room table when I got home and sat down for dinner (or rather, grabbed dinner from the fridge and stood at the counter)
5. Snow Boots: the high ones that would keep my feet dry and warm if I didn't use them as a way to step into puddles and trudge through snow and kick snowbanks so that I can feel like I'm a character in The Road
6. Aldi: the store that makes it possible for me to eat half a sweet potato with unsalted butter and brown sugar, yogurt with apples and walnuts for lunch for less than $2
7. Yoga Mats: the only way I can lay on my floor and (fall asleep while) doing homework, with my pet rabbit hopping on my back
8. Trains: the sound reminding me of days spent in my grandma's backyard, nights in tents in my own backyard, the mornings following when your hand on the tent wall pulls a puddle through and onto your sleeping bag
9. Razors with Multiple Blades: less shaving, less thinking about shaving, less shaving cream, that perfect cold when newly bare legs hit cotton sheets
   
10. Today: the stress, the too many assignments, the fear of not getting it all done, the worry of needing to do it all while I'm with my family for the weekend, the calling Joe instead, the pauses to eat, the e-mail reminders, the Democracy Now and coffee wake up, the time with Baby, the reading of amazing books (Nada and Slaughterhouse Five)