Two aspen trees - right beside my front porch. I wanted to take a picture of the snow, but not actually get dressed and put on shoes. So I stood in my pajamas and flip flops, in the little patch outside my front door with no snow (yet). I love the changing of the seasons. Last night I woke up at about 1:00 a.m., and looked out the window and saw snow. I was so excited it took me a couple more hours to get back to sleep.
I am grateful this morning that I am a sober woman living in the free world. I am grateful that I am gainfully employed and that I am very busy. Due to unfortunate circumstances, my expertise is particularly needed and appreciated right now at work. I am glad that I can bring competence, compassion, and humor into a dark situation.
My first sober Thanksgiving was in 1984. I had no idea how I could stay sober on a holiday that had formerly meant drunken gluttony. I found that I could instead think of the real meaning of the holiday - to thank God for all we had. And I could try to bring some peace and joy into the lives of others. I could start right away by amazing my nephews by not drinking that day. My nephews stared at me all day - it was as though I was walking on my hands instead of my feet - they were astounded that Aunt Mary was not drinking! My kids did not have to worry about fights breaking out, and no one had to worry about whatever chicanery I was going to bring to the table (as it were) that day. Since then, Thanksgiving has been one of my favorite holidays. Not for the food (I don't even like turkey), but for the rich meaning of the day.
I am grateful to live in a country where our founding fathers dreamed up the idea of a national day of thanksgiving. What a place!
"Gratitude should go forward, rather than backward. In other words, if you carry the message to still others, you will be making the best possible repayment for the help given to you." -- As Bill Sees It, p. 29
12 comments:
Seems a little good spirited chicanery would be appropos, but I get what you are saying. I had to look up the correct spelling for appropos, although Mozilla doesn't agree.
I am not particularly fond of turkey, but I am fond of tradition. So I eat a little slice, and then load up on cornbread dressing, which is the only true dressing IMHO.
Snow?
Yuk. Best left for those better able to handle it.
I hear you with the drunken gluttony thing. I remember when I was first sober being greatful I was not fighting nausea the whole day. Or worse
MC says it's snowing, I have no reason to believe it's not true..I run to my door..AND IT'S NOT EVEN COOL ENOUGH FOR LONG PANTS. You got me all excited! It's kind of funny that I have no drunken holiday memories. I'm the only one (parents,grandparents,aunts,uncles,cousins) in my whole family whoever drank alcohol, so it was never an issue....somehow I manged to always drink Ice Tea until I could get the heck out.
Scott...is there some other form of dressing that I don't know about??
And we got snow here too yesterday and it is still on the ground. The worst part is not all my leaves have fallen yet. Sam made a snow and leaf snowman.
"I had no idea how I could stay sober on a holiday that had formerly meant drunken gluttony"
what a perfect description... i had to have as much as possible... yeh
Pam. I hear there is dressing made from WHITE BREAD and there is some made from crackers and oysters. I have actually SEEN both kinds. It is scary!
Pretty~ Ilove snow.
Just wanted to stop by and wish you a happy Thanksgiving ~ gobble gobble
Yes, and there are some people who actually bake their own white bread and let it get to be a day or so old and then they make dressing out of it. And I bet it would make some Houstonians forsake their old cornbread dressing.
MC -thems fightin' words
Like the snow photo. It really makes the whole festive feeling more festive. I remember that song from childhood of "over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go".
Just had my first sober Thanksgiving and I will be forever grateful.
Post a Comment