Thankful Thursday

I spent this week reflecting on everything that has happened in one year and the changes that occurred take my breath away. (You may imagine an 80s flick and that's okay with me.)  Naturally, I will not be celebrating Thanksgiving this year (but here's looking at you, 2013!) so I have decided to spend my time writing a nice little TT for your post-turkey, during halftime, thumbing- through- Black Friday -ads reading. 

So on this fine November day I would like to express my gratitude for the following…

My Nana's Health - I cannot even begin to share how thankful I am that Nana is doing even better than when I left for Liverpool the first time.  Although, it wasn't looking good during the summer, my mother tells me that Nana is doing very well and even went to the casino last week.  When I went home in May I was not expecting to see Nana the way she was.  It shocked and terrified me and I am almost positive I left her crying.  So this news of her doing so well is such a weight of worry off of my mind, I am so grateful for this improvement. 

That I Told Dann That He Was An Idiot -  Around this time last year Dann had this brilliant idea to go on a date with some chick. I told him he was an idiot for doing so.  He asked me why and I told him because you are choosing the Rolling Stones when you could have The Beatles.  He didn't get it then either.  The next day he said "If you are talking about the Beatles and Rolling Stones thing I still don't understand," when I told him I wasn't talking to him.  I'd like to say he had it all figured out with that but he didn't and it took many more hints for him to get the idea that I adored him through his head.  A year later I'd say I'm okay with calling him an idiot.  He's my favorite guy in all the land.  I'm happy I took the chance and that he ultimately realized the Beatles have contributed more to R&R than the Stones have. Good choice, Allan. 

That All Of My Friends Seem To Be In A  Pretty Good Spot -  Although we all have our things that we complain about, everyone I am close to really has no reason to do so (even myself).  I know that there are things that even I would like to change but I honestly cannot say that many of my friends can tell me that they had a hard year (with the exception of two).  They all have their health and their happiness, even for one who may not be so happy, she found peace in her unhappiness and she is working on that.  So, yes, friends, we made it. Woohoo.  Pat yourself on the back.

That I Have People To Miss - For me, it's halfway through Thanksgiving Day.  I'll admit it - I'm pretty sad.  I  miss my family and my friends in America.  I even miss my sister's bickering over things that cannot be controlled.  I certainly miss some of the foods that are just not available or known in Liverpool, you'd be surprised.  As I am sitting in my flat writing this blog the clock is annoying me because I know that so many dinners are starting at this time.  It's always a tight squeeze on Thanksgiving because I feel I need to make a stop here, there and everywhere in order to see everyone.  Of course the fact that each places has certain delicious foods certainly makes this stopping imperative.   With all that being said, I can be as sad as a bear who doesn't have a drop of honey to share or a I can be as happy as a little bee with a whole honeycomb to myself because I have all of these traditions, the foods, and the people to miss.  I am lucky to have the wonderful people in my life who I have the opportunity to miss.  Imagine being that person that has no one and no one to miss!  Kind of like Scrooge, minus the wealth.

Traditions -  It didn't occur to me while these things were taking place over the years but it seems to be that even the most dysfunctional family holds traditions.  Since it didn't occur to me that these things were happening, I can also say that I didn't know I would miss it one day.  Like watching football on Thanksgiving, who'd knew I'd miss that?! But here I am thankful that they exist.  Watching the clock thinking of what I would be doing at this time and I know I would be doing said things because they became tradition to do so.  I find myself laughing at the idea of going through Black Friday ads claiming we would wake up and go and finally get out of the house at two o'clock in the afternoon  to get more whipped cream for pies.  The tradition of my mother making a pie just for me still appears to be my favorite tradition.  J 

I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

And for those of you crazy enough to venture out and go shopping tomorrow/tonight:  Godspeed.

What are you thankful for??