"I am driving up 85 in the kind of morning that lasts all afternoon, just stuck inside the gloom"

That song, "Why Georgia" is by far my favorite song by John Mayer. I drove up 75 this afternoon, not 85; and the afternoon did seeme to drag on, but I was definitely not stuck inside a gloom. I was however stuck in about two hours of traffic, the kind of traffic where you end up putting your car in park because you have been sitting in one spot for so long. Luckily we made a spur of the moment stop at McDonalds before hitting the no-rest-stop stretch of highway because we didn't make it here (Knoxville) until around 9:00. If you're wondering why I am in Knoxville it is because we are visiting Sam's grandparents! Sam's (my boyfriend's) birthday is on Tuesday so we're spending the weekend here to celebrate. They day was fairly uneventful so I will just list three beautiful things about the day (an idea I stole from another blog) and things I am thankful for (since we are so close to Thanksgiving).

1. I am so incredibly thankful for the kindness of Sam's grandparents. They very easily could have only invited Sam for a family birthday celebration, but they didn't. They have opened their home to me for a second time now and treat me as one of them. It is wonderful getting off campus for awhile. It is amazing being in a beautiful house right on a beautiful lake (hopefully I can get a picture of this tomorrow).

2. I am thankful for delicious home cooked meals. My school serves fairly decent food and they were nice enough to provide a subway that we can use our "flexbucks" at...But nothing compares to a real, fresh, home-cooked meal. My belly hasn't been this happily filled in awhile.

3. I am thankful for beautiful, 70-degree days in November and driving through the most beautiful part of Tennessee; miles of orange, red, green and brown leaves. Actually, I am thankful for fall in general. Even the chilly days are beautiful. The air is so fresh and crisp and clean. The leaves make the best crunchy noise and everything has that hint of wintery, icy smell. I love it.