Thanks

My goal today is not to go out except to visit friends.  And take care of the chickens, because those need to get fed.  I know it’s Black Friday and as a patriotic American I’m supposed to run out and load up on stuff or else the terrorists win, but the simple fact is that I don’t need any more stuff.

And for that I am thankful.

We went up to my in-laws for Thanksgiving yesterday.  My sister-in-law cooked the turkey – one of the ones Lauren raised as part of her 4H Poultry project – and it was very tasty if a bit bittersweet.  It was also huge, coming in at 35lbs and none of it added water, so it fed the lot of us.  And there were a lot of us – there were more kids there than there were people at some of the Thanksgivings I remember growing up, which is what happens when you come from a tight-knit but rather small family.  We brought pizzelles and pies and salad, and other people brought all sorts of other things, and we ate and talked and played Cards Against Humanity with three generations of family and it was a grand time with good people.

And for that I am thankful.

We came home and poured ourselves into bed afterward, the end of a long if happy day.  Our children were snug in their beds and I held onto my wife and we fell asleep and all was right in our corner of the world.

And for that I am thankful.

I am thankful for so many things in this world.  For the family and friends who make it worthwhile.  For the safety and material comfort I enjoy, in a world where those are denied to far too many.  For the experiences I have had, the love I have shared, the laughter and even the tears.

I try to remember these things.  It can be hard.  There are too many people working too hard to undo them, many of them in positions of power these days, and while I can count my blessings there are many who cannot. 

But it is right to take the time to celebrate and remember the things you have to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.