The forgotten holiday

“I feel sorry for Thanksgiving,” my six-year-old granddaughter said after I told her that Thanksgiving didn’t have any lawn decorations.  I do, too.  Sometimes on the wings of bats, under the twinkling lights of red and green, and the bustle of Black Friday, we forget to slow down and show gratitude for all we have.

Thanksgiving makes me more mindful of all life’s wonders – newly fallen snow on mountain tops, brisk winds and snuggly warm blankets, raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…  (I could have sworn I’d heard a couple of those somewhere before.) 

I love how Thanksgiving came about – people of different cultures and backgrounds sharing with one another.  I love that even healthy sweet potatoes and unhealthy marshmallows can get along for one meal.  I love the crispness of the day and leaves on the ground.  I love turkey leftovers.  I love baking eating baked goodies.  But most of all I love my friends and family.

As we gather together to feast on our dinner, we move from person to person around the table, each declaring what he or she is thankful for.  This Thanksgiving, I am especially grateful for:

• A sister and special friend, both strong enough to survive the cancer cure.
• Four strong and capable adult children.
• One son-in-law, who is a loyal family man who supports his wife and children.
• Three wonderfully delightful grandchildren, who may just be the cutest kids on the planet.
• A husband who tries to find ways to make me smile, and then every once in a while gets lucky and actually does.
• Brothers and a sister-in-law who I touch base with frequently, who have helped me out many times in my life.
• My freedom and those who give service in preserving it.
• Yoga and the fact that what I can do at this age actually impresses my son-in-law.
• A job I enjoy, and a boss who allows me to butt heads with him, and then admits I’m right most of the time       (just like my husband does).
• The perfect blender, the perfect shovel, the perfect foot massager, the perfect microfiber mop, the perfect pressure cooker, and the perfect flan recipe, all in my possession. 
• Young eye candy, like Ryan Gosling and the scantly-clad professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars.  Whoo, whoo.  (My dad used to say “I may be old, but I’m not blind” and neither am I.)
• Friends who have gone the distance with me, especially for those who read my blog.
• Laughter, loads and loads of it.
• Each day, another day to get it right.

Let our gratitude be the meat in the sandwich between Halloween and Christmas.

Related posts:

1. I’m old enough to be thankful
2. Tacky & sappy but merry wishes to you all
3. Never far from a new start
4. Modern family
5. Everything you ever wanted to be