Recession, market torpor, companies downsizing, etc. I'm sick of it already. Over the next week, let's put as much of that aside as we can and focus on one of the most important things in life: spending time with people you love.

In an effort to help in some small way with that task, here's our Top 10 List of things to be grateful for (even when that seems unlikely):

1. There's always someone else who can cook. Even if it's the gold-toothed guy at Del Taco.

2. Overeating at Thanksgiving has been approved by the FDA. And the ATF, the CIA and the FBI. And just about everybody else.

3.There's always someone fatter than you at the dinner table. But please don't gloat, they may throw a drumstick at you.

4. Thanksgiving is a great time to spend as little time as possible with the most amount of people. What other time of the year could you get away with so little socializing?

5. Leftover Sherry makes a great pre-dinner drink. Just don't drink so much you start basting yourself.

6. Gas is finally cheap again. So now you can afford to drive farther to eat your fill and then be too tired to make the return trip home.

7. Black Friday is much more fun with a tryptophan-induced hangover. Yes, I said tryptophan, go look it up like I did.

8. You can fight over turkey body parts and it doesn't sound weird. Or dirty. Well, there's probably one teenager or pervy uncle that will chuckle like Beavis or Butthead.

9. Pumpkin pie, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy. Enough said.

10. It only comes around once a year.

Our best wishes for a safe, happy and healthy Thanksgiving!