This is always a great time of year to thank God that you're not a pilgrim. Just kidding, pilgrims. But seriously, this is a great time of year to think about what you should be thankful for. We live in the greatest, most free, most productive country in the world. We are surrounded by genuinely good people who believe in community, charity, and fair play, and millions of people work tirelessly to make everything a little bit better every day. Who can beat that?
Besides that though, we should all be thankful for our friends and family and for the chance to make their lives better as they've made ours better. It's a great time to remind them that you love them, isn't it?
Personally, I'm thankful for my wonderful parents and my great sister, my incredible wife, and my amazing kids. I'm thankful to be alive. I'm thankful that I get to see and experience everything this world has to offer. I'm thankful for e-meeting all of you. And I'm thankful that we can experience things like joy and happiness and contentment.
So what are you thankful for?
40 comments:
Please treat this as an open thread, and accept my apology that I can't give you more this week. Thanks for your patience.
Ok.
Well, at least 5 buildings in Ferguson, MO are burning.
"We live in the greatest, most free, most productive country in the world. We are surrounded by genuinely good people who believe in community, charity, and fair play, and millions of people work tirelessly to make everything a little bit better every day. Who can beat that?"
Not much.
Given recent events, some folks might disagree with your sentiments. :-)
Anyway, Happy (early) Thanksgiving to you and yours. We're having family over for dinner and if my nutjob aunt asks me to help her with her smartphone for the umpteenth time, well... I already apologized in advance to my parents for anything rude I might say. :-)
Last year and this year, we just have my wife and I plus my brother-in-law at Thanksgiving. Last year, we tried Cracker Barrel's Holiday take-out. Cost varies by # of people, but for three, it comes to under $60. For that you get turkey and ham plus dressing and 3 sides (e.g. mashed potato, green beans, carrots, okra, sweet potato casserole.) The food is nicely packaged in a thermal bag that really works, and there is easily enough to get two extra meals out of it. No spending the day cooking and cleaning-up, and the quality is excellent. It also helps provide a lot of folks with employment. News you just might use. Happy Thanksgiving from East Tennessee.
Happy Thanksgiving Andrew, Bev and everyone!
I am thankful even as I will not be joining my extended family this Thanksgiving.
My husband is saving 5 vacation days so that early next year we have plenty of time to spend with my daughter and son-in-laws bundle of joy! We are staying in our area to be with my son who can not get many traditional holidays due to the nature of his work.
So besides being joyful about impending grandparenthood, we are all employed and can manage to make a "party" wherever we find ourselves!
Smart phones and Skype make all kinds of hellos possible!
And Tennessee! modern conveniences of catering help when you have downsized! I depend on it!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone...have fun, be safe...eat turkey...I have to go to St Louis next week,,I hope I don't need a tailgunner...
Critch, That is both really sad... and really,really funny.
Cris, Congrats on all counts!
It's funny. When smart phones and Skype and the such came along, I never saw that they would have much of a worthwhile impact. They seemed more gimmicky or gamey than anything. But wow have they made it easy to stay in touch with family ways you never could before. What great things!
Jed, That sounds very convenient!
Scott, Anyone disagreeing would be wrong. :)
CrisD - Happy Thanksgiving to yo too! And congrats on the upcoming "bundle of joy"!
10J - that sounds like a great idea. No fuss. No muss. I am cooking for 30 so far. My Mom keeps finding people to invite. I love it though. I don't often get a chance to cook for more than two much less 30. It's a great challenge. Good news is I don't have to do the dishes!
We're cooking for somewhere around 25 people, but I have to admit we call some people who don't have anyone. One couple are in dire straits financially and health-wise and we try to include them in things. Another couple is for some reason only comfortable around us...they don't seem to have too many friends...that's what the holidays are all about; and the rest of the year too. Everyone have a safe weekend...
I'm very thankful for family and friends and would like to wish everyone a safe and blessed Thanksgiving!
Good list of things to be thankful for, Andrew! The biggest thing I'm thankful for this year is actually being able to spend time with my family on Thanksgiving rather than work thanks to a new job that's finally gotten me steady on my feet. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
- Daniel
I'm thankful for Bob Seger.
GypsyTyger
Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! -and a safe and sane Black Friday!
Happy Thanksgiving to all you guys n' gals!
I'm thankful for my two wonderful daughters, my grandaughter, and that I'm not a bitter and envious person.
Being thankful is a virtue I have found to be indespensable for it, along with joy and peace of mind is whatmakes life so enjoyable and worth living.
Even when I don't feel thankful I strive to be it because the alternative really sucks and no one likes bitter ingrates, even bitter ingrates.
I'm also thankful for my liberty. Something I never take for granted anymore.
And for all my internet friends who are just as real as my "real" friends. :)
Happy Thanksgiving! And here's a shout-out to the retail employees who have to work today. I have no problem with the concept of Black Friday, but open on Thursday? Bummer. (Thankfully, the store I work at doesn't participate in these shenanigans.)
Scott, I think that stinks that they make people work today. I also think Black Friday has become a lunatic affair, and an invite for malicious people to go hurt other people all in the name of an invented holiday.
Bev, It is a great idea, but there is something special about cooking on this day. Speaking of which, our house smells incredible right now! Yummmm.....
Critch, That's fantastic!!! :D Happy Thanksgiving, my friend!
Same to you, TJ! I wish you the very best!
Thanks Daniel! And congrats on finding a good job and getting on your feet!
GypsyTyger, Like a rock, man! Like a rock! ;-D Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy and safe Thanksgiving, Rustbelt!
Ben, That's great! Life is so much better when you avoid bitterness and envy. Only then can you really see all the great gifts we've been given in this wonderful world! Happy Thanksgiving and my best to you and your family.
Happy Thanksgiving, Anthony!
Thanks, Andrew! Things have definitely started to come together for me since I got the job back in April, but I've still got a long way to go. As far as Black Fri...uh, Thanksgiving goes I was subjected to three of them before I got the new job (I had never done it before) and I'm pretty disgusted by it. I still remember the cops and the store manager having to break up three fights over $1.00 towels within one hour! I agree about it turning into an event for the malicious and hate that it has encroached on Thanksgiving itself. Unfortunately, if it wasn't for the demand it wouldn't be happening. That's all passed for me, thankfully, but I feel bad for those who are stuck in it.
- Daniel
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!
Since my family is actually celebrating tomorrow because my sister in law works today (ICU nurse extraordinaire!). I just baked two Apple pies...and the house smells like piiiiiiieeeeeee.
Andrew and ScottD - I think the retail store opening on Thanksgiving day is awful unles those who work get paid double time (yeah, I know, probably not happening...). It's not like when Jews work on Christmas so the Christians can get the day off. This is a National holiday. But it's time to give thanks and I am thankful that I have a great family and friends. That's al that's really important.
It's just a glimpse of a glimpse, but I'm excited. :-)
What's a Nubian?
Happy Belated Thanksvegan Everyone!
(They take a tortured, dead bird, stuff its anal cavity with dried bread, and then say vegans are the crazy ones!)
LOL. My vegan friend sent me that. I'm not quite as fanatical. I'm a lacto-vegetarian.
My family is having our big feast today, on Friday, because that's when we could all get together, and to also commemorate the passing away of a great philosopher-saint in the Shakta tradition of my father. We celebrate the deaths as well as births because the passing of a great sage signifies his or her life's work has been accomplished and now we all get to pass that heritage on to others.
Which brings me to what I'm thankful for-
1. All of the wonderful, open-minded people I have met from coast to coast in the USA who have helped me tremendously in passing on the above stated heritage. Without their support I would be a lonely soul and bereft of some of the best friendships in the world.
2. My parents and grand-parents who preserved their great cultural values and loving passed them on to us kids, cleverly, stealthily, yet also surely, even at those times we were most resistant. It is because of their model examples that all of us in the current generation have turned out as virtuous, productive, spiritually grounded adults today.
3. The path of jnan-yoga, which kept my eye on the ball during times of trouble and was my friendly anchor when surrounded by ignorance.
4. The path of karma-yoga which brought me around to right action when tempted with offers to abandon ethics.
5. The 4 Noble Truths which always reveals the way to end my own personal suffering.
6. The dinner below, a copy of which was made by my father and most favorite uncle upon request for yesterday's and today's combined celebration, and which absolutely floored our Wisconsin guests refuse to leave without all the recipes;
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g660976-d2714851-Reviews-Banana_Leaf-Thane_Maharashtra.html#photos
PS: Eric P, a "Nubian" is a person from the land of Nubia which is a region along the Nile river, located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.
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my comments are being eaten
The internet already strikes back:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=qjrPTCnZwB4
Hemamalini, Your comments were being eaten by the spam filter and I wasn't here all day to pull them back out. Sorry. They should be posted now.
Not sure what to think of this one:
Jurassic World
Kit -
I smiled, and I'm sure it'll be a fun ride, but I don't have the same attachment to Jurassic Park that others my/our age do. I'm not even sure why!
The first film, though, is one film that isn't ruined by its sequels. I watched The Lost World again recently. It's... not good. :-)
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