A Day of Gratitude

Another Thanksgiving passes and I'm ebullient that I'm not a turkey. Spent a great day with loved ones in a home where the dog to human ratio was almost one to one. We are an animal loving family, thus the irony of our carnivorous buffet was topped only by the fact that my dad and nephew left for the hunt before the dishes made it to the sink. I began this post yesterday, with all intents and purposes to actually post it. Yet when I finished it seemed somewhat corny and awkward. So I've begun this day wondering why it is that it seems so difficult to be sincere and not feel like a putz. Is all sentiment hokey? So I've decided to just put myself in a true, Pilgrims and Indians style, mindset and take an inventory of reasons why life is good. Here it is: I am grateful that I have a father that is gentle enough to ask a dog "did you miss me?" while at the same time be able to hunt and kill to put food on our table growing up. I am grateful to have a mother who can outwit the logical irrationality of kindergartners while at the same time run a household with near atomic precision. I am grateful to my sister, who has taught me that life goes on after the fairy tale ending while at the same time being an archetypal woman-mother who is ferociously kind-hearted. For my nephews, who remind me of the raw energy of youth while at the same time remind me how to live in each moment and find in each its unique joy. For Stella, who has enriched my life in infinitely more and more profound ways than I can possibly offer her in return. I am blessed to have so many people in my life who have made such contributions to it that I carry them with me always. They are part of who I am today. And I would be remiss entirely if I did not give thanks to the fact that I'm still learning and I have not lost my sense of humor along the way. My friends, new and old, have seen me through sprained ankles, first crushes, learning to swim, learning to drive, new apartments, culture shock, breakups, reunions, 9/11, moving, the crash, diagnosis, recovery, my discovery of teaching, etc. I'm missing many swings of the pendulum but those ripe memories are simply too vast to be named. Perhaps most of all, I am grateful for the potential to make more memories and meet more kindred spirits with whom I can trot a ditty in this jaunt we call life.