Thanks-Giving

Since I was so whiney the other day, it seems only fitting to post the Sunday before the day a tribute to Thanks – Giving.

I have been blessed in so many ways. I had the warmth and security of a home in my formative years and still have the same home to return to. I had and still have parents who love me and siblings who would admit they loved me if left on the rack long enough. My family was never rich, but my working class dad provided more than adequately for us and all three of us children graduated college with the minimum of a Bachelors degree. Mom cooked, shopped, cleaned and did laundry and rarely complained. She still does. I’m twenty-five years younger and sick to death of it. Not sure how she did it all those years. Our house was filled with laughter and music. Not a bad way to grow up.

In my own home, we’ve not been blessed with riches, but in many ways that is a blessing in itself. We are not slaves to jobs or things. There is great freedom in that. Freedom to appreciate the best things in life. A baby’s belly laugh. Inside jokes that make my daughter laugh so hard she snorts. Snow on the nose of a Labrador. The warmth of a thick afghan. Scents of apple pies, oatmeal bread, chocolate chip cookies. Kisses on the cheek from my ten-year-old boy and strong hugs from my college one. My daughter’s inverted wordings that send us into spasms. A cat curled in your lap as you read a good book.

I have been blessed with church family all my life. People who can drive me crazy, but are loyal and true. Like St. Bernards without the brandy or slobber.

I am blessed to have been born into a country where there are freedoms and opportunities denied so many.

And, I am blessed to be living on this beautiful planet with its rich colors, vibrant breezes, stunning landscapes and ever-changing wonder.

And that Charlie Brown is that Thanks-Giving is all about.

In Defense of Thanksgiving

I haven’t pontificated on my blog for a while now, been busy with things. Not sulking over election, promise. Just waiting for everything to get all better. *smile*

So, picking a topic, let’s go to how Thanksgiving seems to be the forgotten holiday. Well, not forgotten completely. We’re not going to forget to take the day off work and stuff our faces. But, more like bowled over. Jeeze, how pushy can the hurry of Christmas get?

Perhaps it isn’t like this in warmer climes, but up here in Ohio, many, take advantage of Indian Summer to put up their Christmas decorations. So, what we have in early November are houses at holiday war. One side will have a house with bright pumpkins and cornstalks on multi-colored, leaf strewn lawns while the other is bedecked with gigantic red and green balls, crimson bows, white wire deer and dazzling strings of lights. I have a hard enough time remembering what month it is without all this decoration confusion.

Christmas commercials begin directly after Halloween. Poor Thanksgiving doesn’t stand a chance. I mean how can it stand up to the advertising budgets of commercial America?

I think what really bugs me is a color things. I’m not done with the fall colors yet. It’s too early to usher in deep greens and reds in a backdrop of white. I love those colors, I love Christmas, but Autumn isn’t over yet! I’m not ready to let go of the oranges, rusty reds and multi-shades of tan. And looking from one to another messes with my equilibrium. Danger Will Robinson! Danger!

So, I’m stubbornly keeping my pumpkins and leaf garlands in the yard even though across the street holiday lights are blazing. Even if we have to hang Christmas lights in the finger numbing cold, not a string will be hung before Thanksgiving is over!!!