Last week, I worked on my annual Thanksgiving newspaper column in which I express gratitude for small things that improve my life — duct tape, naps, peanut brittle and the death of girdles. As I generated ideas, chuckling at my wit, a question crept into my mind and interrupted my merriment: “Rather than trying to be a comedienne every year, why don’t I acknowledge the significant blessings that grace my life?”
In answer, important blessings worthy of sincere gratitude demanded my attention, and when I wrote about them, words of thanks flowed easily.
I’m grateful for autumn’s splendor when days of untrammeled sunshine softened by cool breezes make it impossible to stay indoors; when color-burnished leaves swirl around families readying for Halloween and Thanksgiving, crunch under the feet of walkers and wait in wind-drifts for the attention of children. A time when people of all ages pause, turn their faces to the sun, breathe deeply of the cinnamon-scented air and rejoice in this season that fills my heart with gratitude.
I’m thankful that through my increased online activity, I’ve re-introduced myself to my nieces and nephews. I let these precious people I knew as cuddly babies, delightful toddlers, inventive children and funny teenagers gradually withdraw from my life as they matured, moved away from my siblings’ homes, scattered across the country and became preoccupied with spouses and children of their own.
For years, I confused hearing about my nieces and nephews from their parents with learning about them through their words flavored by their personalities. But now, the youngsters who delighted me with their antics have returned as they interact with one another and me on Facebook or my blog: teasing, supporting, agreeing, disagreeing, and sharing. Occasionally, they address affectionate words and memories to me, and I feel the same rush of happiness I experienced when they were young and climbed on my lap or threw their arms around me.
I’m also grateful for the brothers and sisters who enrich my life. I used to feel alarmed when I thought about the years we had had accumulated and the inevitable outcome of having lived so many. Then I experienced the initial grief and lingering loneliness that accompanies the death of a brother and emerged thankful that my siblings and I walked life’s journey together, even as I missed Lawrence, who no longer walks with us.
Finally, I feel gratitude for the community in which I live. Every day the people of Craig bless me with smiles: the young boy walking to school who calls “Hi!” with a gap-toothed grin, the clerks and workers who glance up with a smile even at the end of a long day, the drivers who wave whether we’re acquainted or not; the parents who smile when I laugh at the cute actions of their little ones.
I know some of those who initiate a smile or return mine aren’t feeling well, are concerned about a child, are mourning a loved one, are feeling the pinch of our economic times, are lonely; yet they smile. Thus, I give thanks for them.
Happy Thanksgiving
I love this. Beautiful. ❤
I'm grateful for living in a small town with gracious people, too. Yesterday my neighbor saw my car in front of my house — it's never there. She became concerned and phoned. I told her I was having problems with my garage roof and the insurance adjuster had been out to investigate. She asked what was wrong and I told her. Within minutes she and her husband were there with a ladder and he was on the roof checking it himself. What ensued was a dead branch breaking party in my driveway (me and my neighbor) and a roof cleaning orgy (her husband and a rake on top of the garage). He's 80. She's 75. He found the problem, determined that the roof itself is sound, told me what needed to be repaired. At the drop of a hat, they abandoned their morning to me.
I know this is not a small-town thing exclusively; I experienced it when I lived in a bad neighborhood in San Diego. It seems to me to be the result of people understanding that they are all that stands between their community and something very bad. I'm happy to be in a place now where I see more of the good in people than the harried, indifference, the fear and paranoia of a big city, though.
I'm grateful to be home.
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What a great story, Martha, exemplifying what I enjoy about my small town and the people who share it with me. I’m glad you’re home; and I’m certain the folks where you live are glad as well.
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I hope so. I don’t have a lot to offer, but I guess just by not making things worse a person gives a little something to their community.
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You have much to offer, Martha; I remember your blog about painting and allowing others to help you paint the windows of an artist’s coop, I think it was.
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That was a great day. I’m pondering all this… the newspaper column sounds like a good idea.
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Quit pondering, Martha. You’ll have the most appreciative audience you could hope for.
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Once again a thoughtful and honest piece of writing Janet. This is one USA tradition that I would be happy have in my country instead of some of the more commercial ones. To be able to take the time to gather as a family and give thanks for all the good things in our lives. Thanks for sharing this with us. 🌹😀
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Good to hear from you, Lynne. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and has been for many years. It’s a quite holiday that focuses on family, friendship, and the sharing of food with those we care about. What could be better? In recent years, however, the frenzy of Christmas is crowding in on this gentle holiday, which saddens me.
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A wonderful offering for Thanksgiving. It is all the little everyday things that we all should be thankful for. I am most thankful for opening my eyes every morning. It lets me know that I will be here for another day to celebrate life.
Happy Thanksgiving. :o)
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Happy Thanksgiving to you, as well. I, too, feel a quick flash of gratitude when I open my eyes and think of the enjoyable moments the coming day will hold.
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Thanks again for your wisdom. It’s very easy to get waylaid by the fear and anger in the world, and overlook the everyday joys. Happy thanksgiving.
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Thank you, Sally. Some days the fear and anger you mention threaten to overwhelm the small pleasures I try to find in each day, but generally I can keep my focus on the important things.
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In these days of fear and bewilderment, (we even have had extra Coast Guard ships in the strait in case of fleeing American boat persons) I can read your words of gentle wisdom, and know all will keep turning, love will prevail. With Thanksgiving and the gift of memories- and humor above all, many thanks my dear.
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The world will keep turning, Sheila, and I hope love and concern for each other will prevail. Thanksgiving does seem to calm the riled-up lot we Americans can be. We heard the rumor that the day after the election, the immigration information website of your government crashed from too much traffic. Any truth to that? I hope so, because it made me laugh when I heard it. thanks for telling me about the extra Coast Guard ships; that’s good for another giggle.
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Yes Janet,the crash was true. Out my door is a homeless camp,currently a movie is being filmed on Wharf, the fellows were given coffee shop gift cards to go away, they all got coffee and treats and went back. The film is about dogs, “Irish” asked why one of the dogs was wearing eye liner, and the cops were called.This be my neighbor hood, ever a guffaw.
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Not just one guffaw, many! Your stories delight me because they honor the contrary human spirit that resides in most of us, as in the homeless in your nearby camp and Irish. You have to admire their spunk.
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A lovely gift of thanks. It’s good to be reminded of the many reasons for being grateful. Happy Thanksgiving Janet.
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The same to you, Kayti. I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with love, laughter and happiness As I’ve aged, Thanksgiving has grown in my esteem until now, hands down, it’s my favorite holiday.
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What beautiful and inspiring writing! I’m still recovering from ‘election shock’, so I welcome uplifting thoughts more than ever these days.
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So many I know are still reeling from election eve, Diane. I went to my poetry group today and three of the five members had poems about their emotions and thoughts leading up to, on, and after election day. I was not among them, but I enjoyed and identified with their sometimes humorous and sometimes serious responses to the day.
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I give thanks for you, too. Your blog enriches my life and keeps me thinking about things I might not have otherwise. Thank you!
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What a lovely, lovely compliment, Laurel. One of the things I like most about blogging is the way we bloggers enjoy and appreciate our fellow bloggers.
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Thank you for you wonderful ability to paint
Beautiful pictures with just words. I have a
Friend who is in her nineties who told me.
“Any morning you wake up breathing and
Not wearing a soaking wet diaper, is a day
To be grateful and thankful you are still here,”
I have been giving thanks every day because
Life is gift in so many small and wonderful
Ways. I am thankful to read your blog and
Once again be reminded of the importance
Of the kindness of friends and strangers.
“Mahalo Nui, Nui!
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Yes this is true! Another day w/o waking up to wet undies!!! Life is good! And I am blessed to be alive!!! 😉
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Lucie, I don’t even want to think about your behavior nor colorful comments if you woke up with soaking underwear!
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I appreciate your kind words, Shawn. I think I would like your friend because I certainly enjoyed her down-to-earth comment. I, too, try to find reasons to rejoice in every day. Sometimes I fail miserably and snivel my way to bed, but most times there is at least one golden moment for me to appreciate. The last two nights it was the super moon. Did you chance to see it?
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These are the things that matter, Janet. All good things and all worth our gratitude.
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And there are so many more, Dan; I try to not exceed 600 words in my posts, or I could have gone on forever.
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That’s a good number, Janet. I try for 800.
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My newspaper editors trained me well, Rob: 6oo to 700 words, maximum, and any title I write will have to be changed.
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Janet, you’re such a wonderful writer of comedy and I always look forward to reading your witticisms. This “serious” post, however, was outstanding! I enjoyed every word.
It just proves what I already knew about you—you’re a great writer. Period!
Thanks for giving me more “food for thought” for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
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Your comment pleased me and at the same time made me feel humble, Rita, coming as it did from a gifted photographer, traveler, and writer like you. I’m so glad I developed a cataract and we met!
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Cinnamon-scented air is one of my life’s greatest pleasures. I love this time of year, it gives me moments to slow down after the long summer push and still there is warmth from the sun and a glow to it all that I treasure. Thanksgiving, as you may already know, is my favorite holiday of the year. Getting an opportunity to reflect on the grateful big and little moments within a day, week, month, year hold me over through the dark winter.
I admire your ability to strike a humorous tone and then with ease wander into poetic thought taking me along through your proud thoughtful relationship with your younger generation relatives. Always a pleasure to read your words, reflecting, entertaining, questioning, longing, admiring, all are worth my time to read.
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Carrie, I did know that you and I both consider Thanksgiving the best holiday of the year and that you share my love of autumn, which has been such a glorious season this year. Like you, I store up its warmth and colors to help me when winter turns too cold and threatening or lasts too long. Thank you for your kind words about my writing. Isn’t it nice that we enjoy one another’s efforts the way we do? Happy Thanksgiving, my friend.
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I love this! One of the best things is about life is appreciating what’s around you and this is something that’s easy to forget. It sounds like you’ve got a lot of good company around you too!
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I’m glad you noticed that I have been blessed with good company, Jeffrey, because my life has been enriched by those I mentioned. And I am not surprised that you, too, believe our lives are better when we appreciate what we have.
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It takes a special kind of person to search for the positive, instead of dwelling on the negative, and you are definitely one of those. I am thankful for you.
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And I am thankful for you, Troy, a thoughtful, skilled writer and a good person.
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Janet, this is a lovely and meaningful essay.
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Thanks, Neil. My list had just begun when I used up my quota of words; but, and I know you’ll understand this, I don’t mind holding some ammunition back for the next time I want to write about things I appreciate.
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Beautiful piece, J…..This is not the piece that you and I discussed, yes? No? I know I’m getting forgetful in my old age, but this is totally something different. Do you write this one after our discussion??? Any way, as usual, I love it. I especially liked how you weaved your “new connections” with your nieces and nephews because of FB, etc, into the piece… nice…… Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, my friend. I AM THANKFUL FOR YOUR NEW FRIENDSHIP!! ❤
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Your memory is fine, Lucie. This one was approved by Joel, formatted and ready to go before our trip because I wasn’t sure how much writing time I’d have when we returned; so I sent you a piece I want to publish for Christmas. I, too, give thanks for the friendship and writing relationship we have developed. You enrich my life and strengthen my writing.
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Wonderful post. I feel like you are a neighbor.
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That is such a special thing to tell me. Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived next door to one another and could chat over the fence or while drinking coffee or sitting around in the evening looking at the stars and discussing anything we thought of?
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Oh, I’d love that. You don’t happen to live in Greenwood, Louisiana, do you? Last week I was thrilled to be contacted by a follower who just happened to live down the street from me. We had coffe. It was thrilling.
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No, unfortunately I don’t, so I guess I’ll have to daydream about having you as a neighbor. How wonderful that a follower contacted you who lives down the street. Several people in Craig follow me because they built the habit of reading me in our local newspaper, so I know how rewarding it is to talk with those who enjoy your writing.
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Delightful post Janet. I agree with you on being in contact with nieces, nephews, cousins, etc., through Facebook. It brings them back into my life and I truly appreciate their presence.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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When I wrote that bit, I thought about you and knew you enjoyed the same sort of social media relationship with the younger generations, Janice. Both your girls wished me happy birthday and mentioned that it would be nice to see one another. We’ll have to make that happen some way.
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That was lovely. It also illustrates the power of so simple a gesture as a smile. We need that reminder.
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I had never thought about smiles until I began to write about the folks in Craig and realized how many smiles I receive from them each day. They are powerful things.
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Sounds like a lovely town.
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It’s a town that suits me perfectly.
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As always, well done. It’s good to take stock.
Happy Thanksgiving, Janet.
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Thank you, Rob. I want you to know that I feel thankful that after the year you’ve had, you are still in Utah, prowling mountains and streams, and writing compelling prose.
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And I thank you for your support for my efforts to share our shared love of these mountains. 🙂
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You’re welcome, Rob, and I think we hope that through sharing our love of Utah’s mountains with others, we’ll help protect them.
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what precious words! I love your list of gratitude! This is Thanksgiving!
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Do you love Thanksgiving the way I do, my friend? I’ve a feeling you do.
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I do love it best of all-Christmas Eve is second!
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For me as well. I hope you have a wonderful favorite holiday.
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A beautiful list! My own small one this evening includes a sweet rescue dog lightly snoring at my feet after a long walk on the last warm day of autumn:). Blessings to you and your family this Thanksgiving.
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I love your quiet moment of thanks, Kay.Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.
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So grateful to be reminded by your words of all I have.
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Happy Thanksgiving, Audrey.
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Wow what a lovely piece of writing! Thank you for sharing this and what a lovely time of year to share with your family as well! So grateful for everyone and everything in my life☺️💐
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Thank you, and thanks for finding my blog. I will visit yours soon. I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving surrounded by those you love.
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I am sure your smile brightens the lives of all those you come across. Powerful energy contained in the simple smile!! I’m smiling and waving to you now!! Thank you Janet.
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What a delightful comment. I’m smiling and waving back.
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Gratitude is infectious. So are smiles. And look how your own delight has generated more, more, more delight in your readers. Thank you so much.
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Your first sentence explains why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, Rachel. I hope I delight my readers. I know readers like you delight me.
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Hi Aunt Beulah
Should we give thanks to Shawn and Lucie for pointing out that waking up without wet undies is something we must be truly grateful for…I did ponder a touch over that, are they speaking from experience? Eeeew!!!!!
Crikey!!! I won’t be thankin’ anyone the day I start with that caper. Uggh!!!!!
Ya gotta have a giggle, and it is guaranteed when you and Lucie and now Shawn’s clearly in on the act as well.
Hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving Aunt Beulah
I had a giggle too when you commented on being taught to keep your stories to 600 to700 words, I have written verbal diarrhea disease and struggle to keep my comments under 600 words let alone my stories…
Another wonderful story Aunt Beulah, I can’t wait for you to post each month, that’s like someone else we know and love too.
I give thanks that I have you and ( you know who ) to call my friends across the other side of the world
Biggest hugs from
Annie in Australia 🌞 🌴 🌊 💜
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Oh, Annie in Australia, no comment or post you write could ever be too long for me to enjoy. I start smiling when I see the notification that I’ve heard from you, laugh all the time I read your words, then going around smiling on the inside for quite some time. About the wet undies…oh my goodness! It put a new light on aging for sure. It must be hilarious when Lucie and Shawn are together; I can only imagine the fun it would be if you were in the mix as well. I am thankful that you are in this world and my friend, Annie. As the song says, “You are my sunshine… You make me happy when skies are blue.’ I think of you and pray for your wellness, Happy Thanksgiving
Love, Janet
in cold Colorado
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Your beautiful words made my eyes prickle, Janet. Thanks for sharing.
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You are welcome, Christine.
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