Gratitude: My Top Ten List

10. The amazing, gorgeous Fall color we've had this year. After all the bad climate news, the drought, wildfires, earthquakes, etc., it's nice to see something beautiful from Mother Nature.

9. Nicole at Lux Salon and whatever it is that she uses on my hair to cover up the premature gray that makes me feel so old and blah. And another year's worth of great haircuts and conversation. Plus, the salon is next door to Starbucks.

8. Starbucks, especially a tall skim gingerbread latte with sugar-free syrup.

7. iTunes. Podcasts of This American Life, Studio 360 and Fresh Air. Yo Yo Ma. Listening to all of the above keeps me sane during long bouts of editing.

6. The many talented and generous photographers who've mentored me, listened to me, offered gentle critiques and helpful suggestions and encouraged my growth as a photographer in ways too numerous to count over the past year: Rick Ward, Beth Morris, and Regina Holder. I owe you big time! 

5. My dog, Pepper, who sits under my desk with her head in my lap to keep me company during long hours at the computer.

4. Canon cameras and lenses. Adobe's Lightroom software. The guys at Southeastern Camera in Raleigh who have helped me so much during this past year. Johnny taught me how to clean the sensor on my 5D. I still want him to do it, but at least I know how.

3. The amazing, wonderful, fantastic couples I've been privileged to shoot for over the past year. I wish you all the very best and long lives full of love and happiness!

2. Being able to do what I love for a living. It's a crazy, stressful, pressure-filled -- and the best job I've ever had. I truly would not want to do anything else.

1. My friends and family, the ones I work for, live for, love. You make it all worthwhile. Kat, a beautiful, smart, talented and loving 13-year-old -- I thought 13 was supposed to be awful, but you're terrific. Dan, the most loving son a mother could wish for. Caring, thoughtful, funny and wicked-smart. Frank, you're simply the best. None of it would mean anything without you.

"If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice." -- Meister Eckhart

Happy Thanksgiving!