I have too much stuff. I have too many books, too many teapots, and waaay too many tchotchkes. It is, most definitely, a first-world problem.

But I’m grateful for my first-world problems, like  clearing out my extra books. I remember helping a colleague — a South African teacher — pack books to take back to Botswana. Her students had none. NOT  ONE. I have hundreds…

Today I bought the dogs new collars. I had a coupon, which knocked $5 off the total. And I thought at the time: my dogs’ collars cost more than many people make in a day… Think about that.

As I clean and ready for the upcoming holiday feasting, I make space in the refrigerator. For bounty. Leftovers from the annual American eat-in. There will be at least 12 of us, possibly more. There will be turkey, and potatoes ((both white & sweet), and pie and cake and salads and relishes and hummus and turkey and more. And that’s just Thursday

Tomorrow — Monday — an old & dear couple of friends and their beautiful 3 daughters are coming to visit. I still have to make gingerbread, after a day spent cleaning a too-large house. And  decide between teapots (there are several…), and decide among teas… We have to finalise plans: should we walk the River Parks Pedestrian Bridge? Or go to the Rose Garden? Such happy ‘problems’ that I probably shouldn’t even share them!

So today? I’m grateful and give thanks for my first-world problems. Too many things I love, too little room to keep them. A garden refusing to go to sleep, even though it’s mid-November (roses & gold mums & scarlet pineapple sage, still!). A week ahead full to bursting w/ wonderful friends & family & food. And me in the middle of it all, well aware of my own good fortune…