By Elisabeth Strillacci
For the Salisbury Post

Last week, I promised you that I am aware of my blessings and grateful for them. In spite of some emotional struggles, I woke this morning with a song in my head (nothing unusual in that) and all the little things I’m grateful for running through my mind.

I thought I’d share a few with you and maybe it would help remind you that we all have little things to be thankful for no matter what.

I woke this morning in a house that is slowly but surely beginning to reflect my personality. As it becomes more reflective of me, it brings me more peace. I was in a cozy bed under a solid roof with the heat kicking on automatically to keep me, the hubs and the animals warm in yet another cold snap.

Hubs turned on the coffee maker for the morning elixir of happiness, and I mixed the dogs’ breakfast. Our two Corgis are always happy to eat, and always cheerful no matter what. Our Lilibet is recovering from some surgery but is still such a happy girl. I am blessed to have these two devoted companions and fortunate enough to have the funds to care for them when they need something outside food and flea, tick and heartworm meds.

Not only do we have our own cat, but I am blessed to have a patient and tolerant hubs who does not object to feeding at least four outside cats as well. He even constructed housing for them that we fill with straw.

I am immensely blessed to be married to a man who indulges my passions, one of which is Jeep Wranglers. I’d had a Renegade so mom could get in, but I missed my true Jeep, and recently, I passed the Renegade on to our son and bought a new-to-me Wrangler. The hubs says I look “so happy” driving my Jeep and he is right. But I also know that I am blessed to be able to give our son my old car instead of selling it.

I was blessed to experience my dream of living at the beach for a dozen years, something I never thought possible. And now I’m back in my home town, with the love of my life, renewing my acquaintance with the community of my childhood but through the eyes of an adult. I have many memories here, some good, some not, but right now I have the opportunity to make new ones, and my history here makes a difference. It makes being here sweeter, somehow.

I have comfortable clothes to wear, too many shoes, food for the table and food to share.

I have friends to cherish who also cherish me (thanks for coffee this week, Mary, I love that I still have such dear friends in Salisbury). I have adult children who have made wonderful lives for themselves and in the process, made me proud.

I think part of the reason I woke feeling grateful today is because this week, some of us suffered a loss of a young friend, and it has brought a few things home to me. Our friend Wesley was just 32, with so much life still to live, but he fought the demon of addiction for so long. In the end, he lost the battle, but his life was not without value or love. He was a good friend to those who knew him, full of hope and belief and laughter. He tried, again and again, and I know he believed he would always have a chance to try again. He was loved, is loved, and in his honor and his memory, I am reminded to live each day as if tomorrow will not come. It is essential I be thankful today, right now, for what I have, and the people in my life.

So if by chance tomorrow really does not come, you should all know, your life, too, has value, and you are loved. Take a moment with me to celebrate the little things.

Elisabeth Strillacci is formed editor of the Salisbury Post. Contact her at lizstrillacci@gmail.com.