Giving Thanks

By Mary Jo

Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday because of the warmth of friends and family gathering together around my table.  People fill my kitchen, good naturedly dodging each other, cats lurk in hope of a bit of turkey, and there's a bounty of goodwill.

That's not happening this year because of the pandemic.  2020 is a lost year in so many ways. So many events, so many gatherings, so many concerts and vacations, have been cancelled.

To the left is my country oak table, bought from a consignment shop. It has about five different leaves that can be inserted, and I bought it specially for Thanksgiving since I usually host here.  Not this year so no extra leaves, but I do love the table!

 

Someday we'll look back and say "wasn't 2020 a really strange year?"  And friends will say, "Yes, I don't miss it at all!"

But despite all the downsides, the idea of giving thanks is still powerful.  Though there will be no gathering around my oak table, I give profound thanks that the friends and family who would usually be here are all safe and healthy.

We did a Zoom call over dessert and coffee, which was fun, though talking over each other doesn't work on Zoom the way that it does in real life. <G>  But I'm grateful to Zoom for allowing us to connect with each other.  (The splendiferous pumpkin pie to the right was made by a friend who is usually a guest.  Masked, we exchanged a couple of our Thanksgiving specialties with an elbow bump.  If you could taste the pie, you'd know I get the best of the exchange. <G>)

I'm grateful for the internet in general, which has given me the chance to keep in touch with friends around the world 

I'm grateful for the beauties of nature: sunsets, brilliant leaves, lingering flowers that aren't admitting that summer is over. 

I'm grateful for all the front line medical people who have been risking their lives to care for us.  I'm grateful for all the 'essential workers' doing hard, probably underpaid jobs to keep the wheels of society turning: sanitation workers, grocery store clerks, the wonderful people at my local post office.  It's a little early for Tiny Tim, but "God bless you, everyone!"

I'm grateful for the Word Wenches, who live on three different continents, but can still chat and laugh and support each other through the vicissitudes of life and publishing.

I'm grateful for all of you who hang out with us here and make our lives more interesting and enjoyable. 

I'm grateful for my five rescue cats, all very individual and with deep senses of entitlement.

I'm grateful that I've worked at home of decades, so the lockdowns haven't weighed as heavily on me as on many others. 

I'm grateful for having so many books  to read and reread: I'm into rereading comfort reads these days.

 

I'm grateful for seeing the picture of this amazing Mexican Ocelated Turkey on the internet today!  It's found mainly in the Yucatan, and doesn't it look like its daddy was a peacock? Just looking at it makes me smile. <G>  I hope it does the same for you. (Photo by Tony Castro from Wikipedia.)

The list of things to be grateful for could go on and on.

What are you grateful for?  Even in difficult times, just about everyone has some things to be grateful for.  I hope you have many things for which you can give thanks

Mary Jo

 

Comments

[Mary M.]

For one thing, I'm grateful for Word Wenches, Amazon, Hoopla, and the Greater Phoenix Digital Library—and let's not forget Google, Youtube, and their Web siblings—for making life in isolation so bearable. Beyond that, I feel privileged to be a human in a very interesting age. Doesn't matter whether I "get it right," just that I participate. Amen, please pass the (yummy) cran-orange relush!

[Maryellen Webber]

I am very grateful for the Word Wenches, you all give me something to look forward to each day. I am very grateful that my family is healthy, especially my 81 yr old mom. I am also grateful that we have our basic needs met, unlike many who are really struggling right now. Thanks Mary Jo for this post, it is always good to acknowledge gratitude.

[Pamela DG]

I'm thankful for family that adapted to the times and decided to do Thanksgivings in shifts. We had the breakfast shift, and my hubby's brother had the dinner shift. The rest of the family came by for their meals a la takeout style in the driveways. It was different, but we all have decided that we will have a get together after the pandemic is over to celebrate all the significant birthdays we missed, such as our niece's 18th birthday, and celebrate the holidays the way we normally do with a potluck.

[Margot]

2020 such a great set of numbers - too bad the year has not been as great. Here in the US - the political scene and then the Pandemic for most of the year has been a challenge.

I am thankful that all my family are well and those who were ill have now recovered. My friends who were ill (various illnesses) are still here and can enjoy more time. I am thankful that all my family were on the same page politically. I am retired so this pandemic has not affected me as much as so many others - only wish I could do more to help.

I also have a wonderful table that expands and it has seen large gatherings of family and friends over the 36 years we have had it. This year it is cluttered with books, letters and cards to be written to all who cannot join me this year.

Be safe everyone.

[Sue McCormick]

I am especailly thankful that no one of our widespread family has evaded the dreaded disease (so far). I am also greatfule for the internet and the ability to keep in touch: particulary Word Wenches (both this blog and their various personal offerings) and my many very good friends among the genealogy people (most of whom are vertual friends).

[Dee Dee]

Grateful for a job I do from home. For nature, my pets, my partner, for every new day to learn & grow & pray.

Dee Dee

[Annette N]

I am grateful that my family and friends are not dealing with the virus. I am grateful that I live in a spot that has had wonderful weather - (no cold - I have a hard time with cold). I am grateful that I am more of an introvert than I realized and this being alone has not bothered me as much as I feared. I am grateful that I love to read and I have more books to read than any human actually needs. I am grateful that, like Mary Jo, I like to reread books which have given me joy in the past.

I am grateful that I am connected to the internet, and I can travel all over the world, read posts by Word Wenches, when I have questions I can get answers. Most of all I am grateful that even though my health is not great, I am doing OK and that is a GIANT BLESSING.

I hope everyone is taking care and staying well.

[Kareni]

I am grateful for many things ~ for my husband, daughter, sister, other family, and friends. I'm glad that we are (mostly) healthy. I feel fortunate to live in a place that is experiencing peace, not war. I'm glad to live in a home with a good roof, electricity, heat, and a sewer system...and internet! I am grateful for food on the table and for chocolate. I'm grateful for books and the people who write them. Thank you for hosting us here, Word Wenches!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Mary M, cran-orange relish was one of the exchange dishes I got from my friends. *G* SO good! I'm not quite as keen on living in 'interesting times,' but agree that the many digital resources available to most of us are a wonderful way to deal with the current world.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Maryellen, I agree that a healthy family and basic needs being met are true blessings. Thanksgiving exist to remind us. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

Pamela, this was a great and very civilized way to deal with these times! That big safe get together you'll have eventually will be AMAZING!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Margot--having a table cluttered with books and letters and cards is actually quite a good use of a dining room table that can't be used for its main function. You've saved the table from feeling lonely and excess to need. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

Sue, what would we do without our virtual friends? You have much to be grateful for, as do I.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Dee Dee, these are all wonderful things. Especially growing, learning and pets. Pets are a particular blessing in the pandemic!

[Mary Jo Putney]

That's a wonderful list of things to be grateful for, Annette. I think the ability to reread our favorite books is an underrated blessing because finding great new books is not easy!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Kareni, you are always welcome here and your monthly reading lists are AMAZING!!! Thank you for them as well as your presence.

[Teresa Broderick]

I am grateful for surviving this year so far with all that has been thrown at us. My daughter went back to college last year having been ill for a long time. We worried that this would set her back. It's actually made her stronger and she's blossoming. I'm so grateful for this. It's made the year bearable.
This was a lovely post and it's nice to be reminded that we have lots to be grateful for even though life is unbelievable at the moment.

[Andrea Penrose]

It has been such a "lost" year, but I give thanks for many of the same things you do: family and being able to connect with each other, even though travel isn't possible right now . . . being used to the isolated life of writer, so the shelter-in-place hasn't been as much an emotional stress for me . . . the simple beauties of nature. I take a long everyday and love looking at the light on the water of Long Island Sound, the the leaves on the trees, the birdlife, which all make me smile and take joy in my surroundings . . . the deep friendship of the Wenches, and how we support each other through ups and downs, and laugh together over the little absurdities of life. Another silver lining has been Zooming with my college roommates every week, just to talk about how our lives are going. We've been friends since we were 18 (a long time ago!) and it's such a joy that we still love hanging out together . . . and of course, I'm grateful for our wonder Wenchly community and the fun of chatting with so many of you . . .And books. What would life be without books!

I confess, I really the freedom of traveling, but hopefully things will change in the coming year. In the meantime, stay safe and well, everyone. And happy reading!

[Mary Jo Putney]

Teresa--as you say, we have much to be grateful for, and your daughters progress is bright proof of this!