Thanksgiving and Other Thoughts

 I'm sure glad I gave the blog the name of "Let's Try Again".  With such a long blank spell, nothing else seems appropriate. Here I am, trying again, thanks to some friends who urged me to take a message written about Thanksgiving and use it as base for a blog post.  With a few modifications, here it is.

I’ve been down a bit the past few days with what seems to be my annual bout of bronchitis.  Friday we went to a walk-in clinic just a mile from here and saw a physician.  Yesterday, after beginning the prescriptions, I am feeling much better.  As my Dad used to say, “I’m able to sit up and take nourishment.”  That phrase was always used whenever he was asked how he was doing.

 

I read the Thanksgiving messages from several folk, and thought then about contributing, but fell asleep again and never got to writing.  Here’s my tuppence.

 

Thanksgiving is strangely both a religious and secular holiday.  Some theologian once said that if all you ever say is thanks, that is enough.  It’s a time when we take a little time to reflect and realize how fortunate we really are and be thankful.  As with New Year’s resolutions, there really doesn’t need to be a special time set aside to be thankful or resolve.  Both should be done regularly.

 

In the US, there has grown a sort of tradition of having families together for Thanksgiving, and it’s the most heavily travelled time of the year.  It is also a holiday that doesn’t lend itself to easily to selling, though there is some Thanksgiving sales.  Unfortunately, Thanksgiving has been squeezed by  “Black Friday” sales promotions.  And fortunately, I have an organizational wizard for a wife, and we will not have to venture near a shopping center before January.

 

I like the quiet feelings I get when I’m aware that there is so much that I have to be thankful for, and letting the grateful part of being whole move over me.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and one I try to extend past the fourth Thursday in November.  I’m not always successful,  but when I do take the time, it makes me feel good to be thankful at non-special times of the year.

 

Marrianna always starts Christmas decorating the week-end after Thanksgiving.  This year, with the grandson and family coming for Christmas, she has been planning for a lot longer.  Today she has begun pulling stuff our of storage, and she will have it all decorated in a short time.  I’m relegated to helping with some of the high stuff and with helping get the boxes down.  And with that, it’s time to get on it.  Y’all take care.