Greetings from Rancho Santana!

I’m writing to you this morning from my little outdoor “writing studio” that sits next to our new pool, which is being filled with water. When it’s done, late this afternoon, I’m going to test it out. I’m pretty excited about that!

Later this afternoon, K and I will be having an All-American Thanksgiving dinner at La Finca y el Mar, our 5-star restaurant that sits just below our house by the ocean. We won’t be surrounded by our family, as we usually are. But local friends will be there to help us celebrate: TG, a high school buddy that lives here with his son Billy; MT, an amazing octogenarian teacher/ nurse/ entrepreneur/ author; BR and his wife K, who runs our community center here; and LM, a college friend of Number Three Son, who came to work here as an accountant three or four years ago and is now working as general manager.

Today’s essay is about – you won’t be surprised – thankfulness. About my struggle with being thankful and how I’ve recently made some progress.

Happy Thanksgiving!