Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday, and, frankly, I get very annoyed at how much it is overshadowed by Christmas. Not only are Christmas decorations on the shelves of stores and in people's yards far too early, but that idiotic Black Friday satanic shopping nonsense has now encroached upon the very day of Thanksgiving as well.
People, in my opinion, have forgotten what Thanksgiving (as well as Christmas) are really all about in their madness to save a few dollars on things they wouldn't even buy if they weren't "on sale." Sorry, but I'll never understand it, and I'll never take part in it. Black Friday is a big old black eye on America as far as I'm concerned.
Thanksgiving is meant to be spent with family doing the very thing that comprises the name of the holiday -- Giving Thanks.
I need that day, not only as a much needed respite from school, but also as a reminder once a year that I need to take a moment and think about everything for which I'm thankful since it's too easy on most other days to focus on the negative things that cause me grief (even when that grief is minor). I need that day to make me take a breather and realize that I actually have it very good.
So, here is a list of some of the very many things for which I'm thankful, in no particular order.
My children, Trevor and Samantha, who are truly the very best things that have ever happened to me.
My brother, Kevin, and his wife, Anissa, and their two kids, Abbi and Zak.
My love, Kim, who is the kindest, most generous, orneriest, and cutest man I know.
My best friend, Silvia, and her daughter, Constanza, who I keep close in my heart even though they live far away. Nobody understands me or makes me laugh like Silvia does.
My dog, Biscuit, and my cat, Blackjack, who show me unconditional love everyday.
My motorcycle, which has expanded my horizons in many different ways.
My books, which also expand my horizons every single day. They offer me knowledge, solace, companionship, wisdom, advice, humor, intrigue, adventure, and so much more.
My house, which keeps me warm and dry.
My freedom, which many others in many other places cannot claim to have.
My extended family, which is quite vast, because I'm never alone no matter where I may choose to go.
My exchange students from Spain, Italy, Germany, Mongolia, Czech Republic, and Mexico, who have expanded my horizons and become part of my family.
My students who have bothered to pay attention and actually learn from me, and who, in turn, have taught me things as well.
My employer for paying me a salary which allows me to take care of my kids.
My friends, who are too numerous to mention (or perhaps they'd rather remain anonymous -- ha ha), for their companionship over the years.
My divorce, which has given me a new lease on life and the gift of every single day to live in the manner in which I see fit.
Once a person starts to examine her life, she soon sees that there are far more things for which she can be thankful than there are things that bring her distress.
I could easily list 100 actual things, aside from people, for which I'm thankful every single day.
Here goes:
1. my alarm clock
2. orange juice
3. a hot shower
4. dental floss
5. lotion
6. a flush toilet
7. a soft bed
8. slippers
9. tweezers
10. toilet paper
11. carpet
12. running water
13. my refrigerator
14. a garage
15. a garage door opener
16. a shovel
17. trees
18. sidewalks
19. my car
20. stop signs
21. street lights
22. electricity
23. radios
24. music in general
25. cotton swabs
26. soap
27. shoe in-soles
28. jewelry
29. pens
30. paper
31. laptops
32. e-mail
33. paper clips
34. scissors
35. drawers
36. blankets
37. coats
38. gloves
39. ice scrapers
40. fireplaces
41. paring knives
42. microwave ovens
43. cell phones
44. television
45. Netflix
46. my treadmill
47. dog leashes
48. hammocks
49. pillows
50. hot tea
51. cold tea
52. lemons
53. spicy food
54. pasta
55. watermelon
56. newspapers
57. Post-it notes
58. photographs
59. windows
60. curtains
61. candles
62. teapots
63. dictionaries
64. belts
65. pavement
66. ice cubes
67. water bottles
68. convenience stores
69. microphones
70. roses
71. poetry
72. novels
73. highlighters
74. debit cards
75. ATMs
76. bookstores
77. safety pins
78. seat belts
79. helmets
80. chaps
81. sunglasses
82. fingernail polish
83. bras
84. printers
85. bookmarks
86. planners/organizers
87. calendars
88. heated water bowl for my dog
89. my desk at work
90. my desk at home
91. board games
92. puzzles
93. word puzzles
94. mirrors
95. my bleacher seat
96. t-shirts
97. jeans
98. thick socks
99. eye makeup remover
100. beer
That was super easy, and that is just a sampling of the many things on any given day for which I am very grateful and thankful.
Since my divorce over two and a half years ago, I've tried to make every day a mini-Thanksgiving day, but I know that there are still days that go by without me stopping to take a moment and reflect upon all that I have rather than all that I don't have, so I'm especially thankful for the very day of Thanksgiving because it's the one day out of my hectic life where I can truly stop and spend the whole day appreciating things.
I'll tell you this much for sure: I am definitely NOT thankful for Black Friday and the other inane things that detract from the true spirit of Thanksgiving.
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