Thanksgiving Day

We've received calls, emails notes, and cards today wishing Jilda and I a Happy Thanksgiving.
Some were funny, some were poignant, but all were heartfelt. 
To me, the soul of Thanksgiving is gratitude. 
We are all much too quick to acknowledge the bad stuff, and minimuze the blessings we receive. 
Blessings come in many forms -- an unexpected thank you, or check in the mail; it could be finding a parking space close to the door of Walmart when it's raining buckets; or turning a corner and witnessing a stunning sunset that takes our breath away.
I think being grateful for the little things, opens up the pathway to allow bigger and better things to happen. 
Today at the community center, we opened the doors at 11:30. We had tables of food that people and businesses had donated, and 15 people there ready to serve, but no one came. 
Just then, one of the women remembered an elderly friend and a neighbor who couldn't drive, so she fixed go boxes and left to deliver them. 
I remembered an old guy that lives in a small one room house. I pass by him almost every day on my way to visit my mom. He's often sitting out on his porch watching the world pass by.  I fixed a box and took it to him. He was both surprised and grateful.
By the time I returned to the center, people had started coming in.
By one, we'd served about 75 people. 
Here's the thing -- It's hard to think about all the wrongs life has dealt you when you're serving others. Most of the stuff we fret about is as insignificant as a hangnail in the scheme of things.
After lunch, we left the community center, headed to the nursing home to visit my mom. Once there, we did our best to speak to every resident we passed.
After a nice visit with my mom, we drove to my sister's house and snacked with them as the evening sun squatted down behind the horizon.
When we arrived home, it was all I could do to keep from taking a nap. I was spent, but happy.
As I reflect on Thanksgiving 2012, here is a short list of the things I'm grateful for:
I'm grateful for my health, even though my knees squeak when I stand
I'm grateful I managed to find work that suited me, paid for my house, and education
I'm grateful for the friends I've made through the years
I'm grateful the Good Lord has blessed me with a sense of humor and the ability to occasionally string words together that make sense 
I'm grateful for our little farm and the critters that live here
I'm grateful for my fellow writers, the wisdom they share, and the comments they make
I'm grateful I learned how to play music and write songs
I'm grateful for finding a soulmate the first time around
In closing, I found a quote by Charles Dickens that says it better than I ever could --
"Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many--not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some."  
Happy Thanksgiving to all.