By Karla Sullivan
Thanksgiving’s historical beginnings belong to the Pilgrims and the Winnebago Indians who celebrated the harvest festival. For us, it is a day of remembrance that we spend with family featuring fine foods such as turkey, giblets, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables and a variety of pies, pumpkin usually being the first on everyone’s list. Good food, though a part of the Thanksgiving history, is always a priority and excuse for any holiday here in the US.
However, another added tribute to Thanksgiving is football in America as the male counterparts of the family gather in front of the set, stomachs ready for the game ahead though in some households many try to make that annual attempt to toss their own ball in the back as the women wait to see who will be the first injured player. But that is ok, it is tradition.
As families prepare for the festivities gathering the necessary ingredients for the grand table, many do find some quiet time to evaluate the year and decide what they are truly thankful for during the holiday season. And the list can vary from the joy of being a grandparent to even finding a close parking space on Black Friday. But, thankfully, Thanksgiving encourages the lists of thanks for the simple pleasures, wonderful people, and maybe just another year of life to spend with those we love. Gratitude is taught and hopefully remembered throughout our days beyond the yearly celebration where we can truly reflect on how lucky we are in our own light.
So here it is again, my list of never ending thankful moments and surprisingly, with the exception of new personal introductions of family and friends, it always focuses on the same.
- I am thankful for time and not wasting it.
- I am thankful for great books, hobbies and the word bored that is not a part of my vocabulary
- I am thankful for logs in my fireplace and the fire starters that really work.
- I am thankful that I can define myself in less than 30 seconds “I am a special mix of passion, humor and loyalty while being deep and ambitious.
- I am thankful that grand is really my middle name
- I am thankful that I refuse to give up on my dreams.
- · I am thankful that I will never be too old.
- I am thankful that my daughter bakes better cookies than me.
- I am thankful for all grandchildren that teach me how to be a child again
- I am thankful for Gladys Knight and the Pips my favorite recording of “You Are the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” because it honors so many in my life.
- I am thankful for our service men and women who courageously fight today and sacrifice their own desires
- · I am thankful for my pet, who is always waiting in the window when I pull up, knowing the sounds of my car and greeting me with a smile regardless of the time of day or what kind of mood I am in.
- · I am thankful that I don’t have to choose my words carefully; my pet always knows what I mean.
- · I am thankful for my endless file of thank you notes. I must be doing something right every day.
- · I am thankful that my mistakes have guided others.
- · I am thankful for all of you who so faithfully read my articles and for those out there that always bounce back when life seems to curve so dangerously without warning and inspire others to charge ahead with positive anticipation and grace.
And, finally, as my personal collection of years keep passing me by, I am truly grateful that my gratitude list richly grows massively for without the essence of being grateful for so much, nothing else can make a difference.
