Thanksgiving...there are things to be thankful for

[widower2]

: confetti :

I hope you are all able to make the most of it somehow, whether with family/friends or like me solo. Which is OK (not great, but OK) as I have a traditional meal planned and football to watch all day and nothing else to do. Take that you bleeping chores! 

I also have this from I forget where. I get it's hard to feel thankful when one has been dealt an insanely cruel blow, but even in that, there are things to be thankful for, amazingly. Easier said than done perhaps, but FWIW. 

 

THIS THANKSGIVING, I AM REMINDED THAT I AM THANKFUL...

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG, BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT (ESPECIALLY ON THANKSGIVING!).

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL, BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE TAXES THAT I PAY, BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I AM EMPLOYED (OR RETIRED AND STILL CAN AFFORD THEM). 

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A HOLIDAY OR PARTY, BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND/OR FRIENDS.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK, BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING CHORES, BECAUSE THAT MEANS THEY ARE AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS, AND ARE BEING TAUGHT RESPONSIBILITY. 

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING, BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT, BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT, BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN GET TO THE STORE AND HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH MY OWN TRANSPORTATION.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH THAT SINGS OFF KEY, BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY, BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT I AM BLESSED WITH ANOTHER DAY TO DO WITH AS I PLEASE

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY, BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WILLING AND ABLE TO WORK HARD.

FOR FOND MEMORIES, BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH PEOPLE WHO HELPED TO CREATE THEM AND THE FORTUNE TO HAVE THEM. 

 

 

[KayC]

Well I am stood up.   I tried calling, texting, walked down there, she's gone, w/o even a phone call.  So it's me and Kodie, having scrambled eggs.  I passed up an invitation to Josh's mom's because I'd already said yes to Iris.  Wow, how does one do that?  I don't want to drive the 1/2 gal. gas just for turkey alone.

[widower2]

ugh sorry to hear Kay! wth? Hopefully not for a bad reason (injured etc) - if not, boy I'd be ripping her a new one. 

[RichS]

Kay : It never ceases to amaze me how inconsiderate some people can be. To top it off, these same folks often come up with the lamest excuses as to why they never contacted you. This may sound like 20th century, but to me, communication is more important than automation.

[KayC]

She was on the phone all morning (so couldn't leave a msg), didn't respond to my text, Kodie and I went to her house and her car was gone, she must have taken off just before we left our house.  I texted her and got a response this morning saying she thought I was going to my church. Why would she think that, she totally didn't rememberr inviting me to the Methodist dinner with her!  I turned down an invitation because of this prior commitment!  And our church didn't have one. 😡  So no way she got that from me.  
I texted Melissa and Finley and they said to leave now, so Kodie and I got in the car and drove about 65 miles away to his mom's, 15 of us in all, I felt like I fit right in and Kodie was a huge hit with the grandkids. We had a good day, got back in time to load the fire.  His mom and I hit it off, love some of the same mystics (books), she lives in the same apt bldg Melissa used to be at, it's huge.

I hope you all had a great TG!  So I managed to salvage what was a huge sucker punch and turn it for good.  Never heard from son.

[RichS]

2 hours ago, KayC said:

I texted her and got a response this morning saying she thought I was going to my church. Why would she think that, she totally didn't rememberr inviting me to the Methodist dinner with her! 

Hate to say it again but...............folks often come up with the lamest excuses as to why they never contacted you.

[KayC]

It doesn't excuse it.  I know she has a lot on her mind, but really?!

[widower2]

Glad it ended up working out Kay! oy. As I said in the other thread...can't it just be April??

[KayC]

4 hours ago, RichS said:

Hate to say it again but...............folks often come up with the lamest excuses as to why they never contacted you.

She texted me and said "If you would have really made it clear..."  ARE you KIDDING me!  She ASKED me, I accepted, what could be clearer than that!  She was gone Tuesday, on the phone in her bed Wednesday, on the phone all morning Thursday, didn't answer my text Thursday morning...hmm, wonder what  I could have done different?  Oh yeah, turned her down...😡  Some people can't accept responsibility for themselves.  So over this, but just stop texting me with lame excuses.

[RichS]

29 minutes ago, KayC said:

She texted me and said "If you would have really made it clear..."  ARE you KIDDING me! 

TWO THOUGHTS HERE:  

(1) You wonder how she ever got married (remember, her husband had to make it REALLY CLEAR to her about proposing to her). Either that, or he'd end up arriving at the church by himself (In a costly TUX RENTAL!)

(2) You've bigger fish to fry:  Oregon State vs. Oregon - tonight at 8:30 PM. Tell Iris to come over and join you. Then lock the door and draw the curtains! A little payback!

[KayC]

She's not into sports.  This is BIG for OR!  The last one, so sad.  You'd think they could continue doing it just for the fun of it, no PAC involved!

[widower2]

Oregon will lose. Why? Because I want them to win. ugh

Edit: so glad I was wrong! 

[Rey Dominguez Jr]

Yesterday, I did a morning driving shift for the Red Cross, sat with Veronica at Miramar for a bout an hour, stopped with good friends, and went to my son and daughter-in-law for dinner.  When someone would say “Happy Thanksgiving” i just could not answer with the same greeting.  The words would not come out.  This Thanksgiving was not happy for me.  

But on a different note, I am “one of those people”.  Veronica and I are Dallas Cowboys fans since our childhood and she would have been happy with the final results yesterday between the Cowboys and the Washington Commanders nee Redskins.

[widower2]

A Cowboy fan?? I'll have to ask the admins if you're still permitted here.

 

[RichS]

4 hours ago, widower2 said:

A Cowboy fan?? I'll have to ask the admins if you're still permitted here.

widower2:  The first paragraph was really written by Rey. Somehow, Jerry Jones stole his identity and added the second paragraph without Rey knowing it.

[Boggled]

On 11/24/2023 at 5:11 AM, KayC said:

I texted Melissa and Finley and they said to leave now, so Kodie and I got in the car and drove about 65 miles away to his mom's, 15 of us in all, I felt like I fit right in and Kodie was a huge hit with the grandkids. We had a good day, got back in time to load the fire.  His mom and I hit it off, love some of the same mystics (books), she lives in the same apt bldg Melissa used to be at, it's huge.

so it worked out great!  I'm THANKFUL for that!  

and I'm THANKFUL for this site!  because it's a community that  I THINK "gets me" and that I "get," throughout this time since I started on it.  

Really, I'm THANKFUL for time, for nature, for all the things!  for family company or for the capacity to survive through pain and sorrow, I'm thankful I'm still alive!  ... so far.

[KayC]

Yes, I so agree.

[LMR]

I remember just 4 years ago looking outside at the fall trees in the sunshine and saying "I love this place, I love this planet" then it kicked me in the teeth. 

I guess I was too happy yet I didn't take it for granted and still it was all stolen from me.

[AJ4]

I'm one of those "Yay Sportsball!" people who just hopes both teams had fun.  Lol, my mom and dad are really into basketball watching now and so when I call them on the phone I listen to all the latest and try to refrain from dumb questions like "this is basketball, right?"  They were hoping OSU would win, since they are from Oklahoma.  Oh, and my mom grew up in that town where they are having the gang war now.  Weird. Tiny town, much gang violence.  

I'm thankful that I still have parents to talk to.  They are getting older, and a lot of people my age do not.  

I'm thankful for my kids, who are wonderful. Their dad would be soooo proud.
I'm thankful for my friends who came to Thanksgiving dinner. They are the best, and they brought the turkey and some other dishes. I made pie and rolls and a vegetable.  

[Boggled]

19 hours ago, LMR said:

I remember just 4 years ago looking outside at the fall trees in the sunshine and saying "I love this place, I love this planet"

strange, reading this, LMR, it reminded me, I did that too.  oh!   oh yeah, I remember that.    

But I'd forgotten it.  how strange to have forgotten feeling like that.   

So THANKS for the reminder!

[KayC]

20 hours ago, LMR said:

I didn't take it for granted and still it was all stolen from me.

It needn't be stolen...in time you may learn to appreciate those fall colors again...walk among them and appreciate them.  And think of your beloved with you in spirit.

[foreverhis]

On 11/26/2023 at 6:35 AM, KayC said:

It needn't be stolen...in time you may learn to appreciate those fall colors again...walk among them and appreciate them.  And think of your beloved with you in spirit.

Agreed, Kay. For a long time, I didn’t believe that could be true. How could the sun keep rising and how could the sunsets still be so spectacular here? How could I ever be thankful for anything because the one most important person in the world had been taken away?

But slowly, bit by bit, I found myself looking at those sunsets in awe and being grateful that the sun rose each morning. I could walk down to our local nature preserve, one of our favorite places to go together or with our girls or with friends, to wander and remember. I could listen to the rustling of the trees, watch the shore birds and falcons, and breathe in that unique scent of salt, sand, marsh, and plants that has so long been part of our life. I could sit at the newest overlook and talk to John, hoping that my words were carried on the breeze (or wind—it’s often windy here) to wherever he is now.

This Thanksgiving weekend my sister, BIL, and I hosted our Saturday Chili Fest. This is the third year since I decided we needed to begin again in a different way. There were 11 of us total with our dear friend (Raleigh’s mom) missing only because she was out of town for a long-time friend’s 70th birthday celebration. (We saved her a meal.) The house was full of family and friends who all honor John by making him part of their lives.

My sister and BIL went to his family’s Thanksgiving dinner this year, but managed to be down here by lunchtime Friday. They’ve been with me on Thanksgiving for the last 3 years, but I was going to be fine with being on my own. As soon as Raleigh’s human parents knew that, they invited me to go with them to his sister’s place (10 minutes drive from us). It was a lovely evening filled with stories and remembrances and laughter and love.

When I came home, there was my Cosi girl. She sniff-sniffed and knew I had been with people (and a dog) she loves. Then she jumped onto the sofa for pets and contented purring. It’s nearly a year since that fateful, unexpected day when she looked at me, heard my voice, and declared, “There you are. Finally! You’re my family!” How far she has come from the reticent, neglected cat she had been as she blossomed into the beautiful, strong, clever, stubborn, friendly, loving girl she is today.

For all these things and more I am thankful.

[SSC]

@Rey Dominguez Jr my husband too was a huge Cowboys fan.  Ever since he was a little boy.  To be fair he did live in the Dallas area for a while and played football in school so.. you know..it’s a thing.  But he LOVED all football!  I called Sunday “football church”.  He had to buy Sunday ticket so we watched football religiously.  Steve would have been so happy with the comeback the Cowboys made on Thanksgiving Day and I would have been so happy for him! 
 

Not to mention the Texas Rangers won the World Series.  Another feat he would have been so happy to see.  Every year we would go to Arizona to see the teams play in spring training.  So much fun!  I sure do miss those days.  

[RichS]

4 minutes ago, SSC said:

Every year we would go to Arizona to see the teams play in spring training.

When I lived in Florida I used to go to spring training games as well. A couple of times I went to two games in one day. My wife Chris used to say that she was a baseball widow during the month of March. 

[KayC]

3 hours ago, foreverhis said:

How could the sun keep rising

OMG, I remember thinking the same exact thoughts!