Lanternes of Thanksgiving

 

We

thrive best

when treasured

but have to work

hard.

 

 

Teams

make a

difficult

job easy and

quick.

 

  

Most

thankful

for love and

prosperity

now.

 

 

We

break bread

together

and give heartfelt

thanks.

 

 Feel

seasons

for what they

offer to the

Soul.

 

Know

today

endures in

memories that

last.

Toomer's Corner Trees in Auburn



Shadows in the Sand


And
bless you
each of my
wonderful friends.
Thanks.

Lanternes by Diana, Thanksgiving 2012

Making Memories

This year, Thanksgiving was on my birthday, a gift like no other. Family and friends present with me, laughing, creating and playing, eating and taking long walks. There is no better gift than that. One Facebook friend posted with a wink symbol: "The whole country is preparing special meals today and having parades in your honor." I chuckled. Had that been true, I couldn't have been happier or more grateful than for the simple, fun days we had.

We got to spend it here at the farm, Traylor and I with our two daughters, Caroline and Clara, and with Jon and Sherry Launt, our good friends who were once Charlotte neighbors for twenty-two years.  It seems that small gatherings of family and friends bring special memories because each person brings unique gifts and talents.

Caroline raised the bar on fitness this year wanting half raw foods and daily exercise.  She surprised me with a card that melted my heart. Clara brought her need to laugh and some jars of orange and green putty that made farting noises when squashed. She had the energy to keep playing with the dogs when everyone else was ready for a nap. Both daughters insisted on playing Taboo, the simple game that makes us laugh until we cry, a game they love because as partners, they always win.

Sherry brought gifts of food and wine, a table runner and coasters to use for holidays to come and shared her talent for sewing those gifts--handmade and useful items--which got my creative juices flowing. Jon brought his gift of words to express his wise attitude of humble gratitude.

And what is life without animals? There was Cappuccino, our cat of 16 years and our two rat terriers, Bandit and Rudy. Clara's rat terrier, Stella, lives here and the Launt's brought their large red-brown Australian Shepherd, Kiwi. Dogs that curl around us and keep us warm or bound around us on our long walks enrich us daily.

Traylor suggested that we not cook, but have our meal at the River House Country Inn and Restaurant where our special friends served the traditional turkey, dressing, and gravy, green vegetables, creamed onions, cranberry relish and pumpkin bread pudding. On the way, I sang, "Over the river and through the woods to Gayle Winston's house we go." Traylor's sister Ruth joined us for the meal, making the day just right. It was all such fun.

As Jon remembered those who could not be with us, I thought of my mother who is now well-cared for and happy at Morningside of Auburn and Traylor and Ruth's mom who recently moved to a nursing home. Each year, we make unique memories and then the next year brings something new and different.

What will next year bring? Who won't be here to make new memories? It could be any of us; it could be me. If this were to be my last Thanksgiving, then let it be said, I have been blessed and I am grateful.

From Washington, D.C.

Returning from Washington, D.C. this week I am overcome with thanksgiving for the men who designed our government and the women who influenced them-their mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, nurses, teachers. I am thankful to live in a country where the pursuit of happiness is still available for those who are willing to work for it. Often, those ready to work the hardest are immigrants, legal or not, who will do whatever job is available to make American dollars to support their families and give them a newer better standard of living.

Walking through the country's capitol, you can't miss the excitement, the potential, the diversity of people and ideas. People of all nationalities, all races, all regions of the US, all political parties, all kinds of mixed couples and mixed families, religious groups, protest groups walk side by side.

The monuments and museums help us remember and honor the great ideas that shaped our union over 200+ years and the sacrifices that kept us free, as well as the mistakes and atrocities that must not be allowed to happen again. From the founding fathers to Martin Luther King, our leaders are honored in larger than life memorials because they rose above the many to make a difference for all.

I don't think we will give up on this legacy. This is a country where we still strive for the best possible government. Even now, we are struggling to revamp it-to make it more representative and more transparent. It is not the first time our government has lost its way and forgotten to listen to the people. Remember the 60s and 70s when a counter-culture movement turned cities on their heels, a misguided war that we fought with our best young men.

But, because it is not the first time, we know that this we can remedy.  We the people have individual rights to talk about what is wrong, to gather and stew about it, to assemble for a peaceful protest and to vote every dysfunctional congressperson out of office.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful to know that I can express my opinion, strongly or gently, in writing or verbally. I can use words and peaceful actions to make people think or make them angry without getting shot and shoved into an unmarked grave or put in a political prison without hope of escape. I am thankful that Americans are educated to know about these freedoms because when we forget, that is when we can lose it all.

At Thanksgiving, God bless these United States of America.