The Thanksgiving List
One of my friends has a lovely dinnertime habit. Each family member (including the 2 1/2 year old) says one thing for which they’re grateful that day. In Jesse’s case (the little guy) it’s as simple as “batteries!” or “rice!” Gives one some nice perspective (and his little face lights up so brightly you can’t help but smile back.)
Since this Thursday is all about being grateful, here’s my list, in no particular order:
1. Ditto re the batteries and the rice. Need the first for my remote (so I can watch Farscape, Battletstar, HGTV, and Paula Deen) - and the second is right tasty. (Hey, I’m a simple woman.)
And,
2. Timers on coffee makers. Blessed be the engineer that came up with that combination!
3. Butterfat (any form, in pretty much anything) When in doubt, add butter.
4. New Mexico. Bark beetles, forest fires, drought, drunk drivers, silly politics, and all - it remains the Land of Enchantment and unlike any other state. I’ve been back for over 5 years now, and the sunsets still leave me awestruck. (I’ve been known to pull over to the side of the road to watch a particularly good one.)
5. Technology that enables me to have fun work and friends all over the globe.
6. Having the memory of being crazy, madly, deeply in love, in Paris. Sure, big cliche - but it was also big-time love and Paris is - well - Paris. (And, everyone was very nice to us, even though neither he nor I spoke a word of French.)
7. That I’ve somehow gained the small wisdom that “stuff” (with or without batteries) doesn’t make one happy. (Good thing too, otherwise I’d never fit my Jeep in my 1950s-era tinker toy garage.)
8. My dear good friends that would bail me out of jail…and those who would also alibi me for pretty much anything, no questions asked. (”She must have had a good reason!”)
9. My mom’s “from scratch” recipes, and her teaching me how to make them. I make a mean pudding and pie crust!
10. All of you who visit this site. Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your comments.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Tags: Thanksgiving, Mary Schmidt
View the Blog Roll
November 22nd, 2006 at 8:36 am
I’ll second Paris, particularly appropriate for me this year. There is nowhere like it.
An interesting contrast to being thankful for Houston, a city where a normal person can afford to have a bungalow with a front porch where he can sit listening to the hum of an enormous city, chatting with great neighbors wandering up and down our little street, watching the goings on of Mr Gordo, the neighbor’s cat, admire the semi-tropical vegetation on a warm fall night, and appreciate living in a small town in the heart of a big city.
November 22nd, 2006 at 10:51 am
Happy Turkey Day to you, too, Mary … and let’s all hear it for butter!
November 27th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
Altho I wasn’t in love when I was in Paris .. I loved Paris! I’m adding thanks for your blog .. funny, smart and always makes me think.
November 28th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Thanks for dropping by Toby. And, ditto re your blog! Folks who think blogging is a waste of time are really missing out, aren’t they?
And, Paris is great even when you’re not in love!