Giving Thanks

For the past eighteen years, I have celebrated Thanksgiving without fail.  To me, it is a significant holiday, for it is the time each year that I consciously and carefully take stock of all that is good and which makes the world a better place, not just for me, but for others as well.  And, frankly, I like the fact that the food is as good as it is at Christmastime, but there is no extraordinary shopping to do, no gifts to wrap and it doesn't seem to have the politics or baggage that comes with Christmas.

The list of things for which I am thankful is long.  I am blessed to have two great kids and to be raising them with partner who shares my values about children, careers, education, community and living within our means.  I like my job and my co-workers, and I feel as though the work I do has meaning.  Through my work I have opportunities to interact with community members whose business it is to make a difference for others and to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves.   They inspire me to do my very best and they remind me that even just a small act on my part can make an enormous difference to someone else.

My family and I have food to eat, a vehicle to drive and medicine for what might ail us.  I have a warm place to sleep at night.

My parents have forgiven me for the teenage years, and they, along with my sister, call me every now and then just to see how things are going. My grandfather is still healthy enough to ride his bicycle twelve kilometres every day (except when there's snow on the ground) despite the fact that he is well into his 90s.

My friends and neighbours are fun, supportive and reliable and I cannot imagine life without being able to get advice on child care from She-of-Many-Children, or help with posting stuff on this site or getting our e-mail from the People-Across-the-Street.  My friend Vicky drank champagne with me on my birthday.  I love being able to go visit my buddy Karen, who lives in the Caribbean, and just pack my toothbrush and a bathing suit. Law school would have sucked without Jo-Ann, who showed me the ropes, and Jan, who kept me going - and laughing - even when the times got tough. 

Fellow members of the Failed Mommies Club help me to realise that I am not alone in my guilt about having a career and raising kids, and keep me grounded.  I now know that it's okay to feed your kids KD twice in a row and that sending "Dunkaroos" in their lunchbox for a snack is not the end of the world.   

And, of course, I am eternally thankful to my mentor, advisor, confident and friend, Sheila, with whom I have been celebrating Thanksgiving for the last eighteen years and who still cooks the meanest turkey this side of the of 60th parallel !!!

Happy Thanksgiving, all.  Take time to count your blessings.