Thanks, Day 7

I am thankful to know LH. Don't ask me, I won't tell you. This post is for her.

Thanks, Day 6

Is there anything better than a beautiful fall day of cool breezes, bright sun and blue skies? Yes, a road trip with a friend on a day like this. I'm grateful for both.

Once again, lets revisit the thankfulness list:

1. Gravy
2. Fannie Flagg
3. Gambling
4. Boss in Meetings
5. Fridays
6. Aunt Louise
7. Perfect Fall Days
8. Road Trips

It's probably amazing how many of these we have in common, right?

Thanks, Day 5

I was trying to avoid being thankful sappy here, but I'm feeling sappy so I can't help it. I drove to Cincinnati today to see my Aunt Louise. My buddy Pat was nice enough to ride along and bring her little dog. Aunt Louise loves dogs and now that she lives in a retirement home she doesn't get her hands on one too often. We had a good visit and it was a beautiful day for a drive.

Aunt Louise is 98 years old. She'd be furious with me for telling you that, so keep it to yourself. I've heard her use this line a thousand times: Someone will ask how old she is and Louise will say "Can you keep a secret?" When the person says yes, Aunt Louise says "so can I." Some of her cronies in the home have pulled me aside and asked me how old she is because she won't tell them. Neither will I. If you have a little vanity at 98 then I say good for you!

At 98, she still lives in her own apartment. Uses a walker, but gets to the dining room on her own for dinner. Has lived an amazing life for a woman of her time - she graduated from college, worked in a children's home in the south when she was barely in her twenties, became a minister in the Methodist church, traveled all over the world as a missionary and tells fascinating stories about all of it. Slightly embellished stories, possibly, but only to make them just a bit more colorful.

For example, while I was out picking up our lunch, Louise regaled Pat with the story about her former neighbors (before the home) and how the man murdered his wife. With a sledgehammer. Blood was everywhere! And he only spent one night in jail.

Appalling as it is, I know for a fact that Louise's neighbor did kill his wife with a hammer. She was terminally ill, he was her caregiver. I know Louise heard about it, but "I heard my neighbor killed his wife" becomes much more riveting when you throw in a few extra details. It takes a story from good to great.

Aunt Louise is the last living relative in the generation above me. Once she's gone, there won't be any aunts or uncles left. So, I'm thankful she's still around and still pretty sharp and healthy.



 

Thanks, Day 4

I had a very nice day today. The weather was sunny and crisp. Work went well. I spent the evening downtown with good friends. We started off at a pottery show in the Cultural Arts Center, followed by a chilly walk on the beautiful new Main Street bridge, and ended with pumpkin pie and good conversation in a condo with an amazing view of the city. It was a stellar day.

And yet, as I write this, the thing I keep thinking is I'm SO thankful it's Friday.

Thanks, Day 3

My boss was in a meeting today from 9 to 4.

Let me repeat that: 9 to 4. All day.

So, I had a quiet, relaxing and somewhat productive day and I'm thankful.

Let's recap the thankfulness so far:

1. Gravy
2. Fannie Flagg
3. Gambling
4. Boss In Meetings

Boy, if that doesn't give you an attitude of gratitude nothing will.

Thanks, Day 2

I received an email this morning informing me that I won the weekly prize in the football pool - $24. Tonight I played Keno with my buds and hit for $29! Awesome! I am so thankful for gambling!

A Month of Thanks

It started today on facebook, just like it did last November 1. People are counting down to Thanksgiving by posting something each day for which they are thankful. I don't want to do it on facebook, but I'll try to do it here. Last year I wrote about the 12 days of Christmas. This year I'll do a Thanksgiving blogfest. Read along if you want.

I'll start off by saying I'm thankful for my kids, my house, my employment, my health. That's a given.

So, today, I am thankful for gravy. Yummy gravy like my mom taught me to make. I cooked a chuck roast yesterday during trick or treat. I cooked it on low heat for a long time, until the meat fell apart at the touch of a fork. It was too late to eat it for yesterday's dinner. Tonight, I heated it back up, took out the meat, added some Wondra flour, water and seasoning to the broth and made graaaaaaavy.

Dang it was good. It makes me think of Fannie Flagg. I read somewhere that she said low-calorie cooking was not a tradition in her family; in fact they considered gravy a beverage.

A former neighbor of mine said she saw Fannie Flagg on a talk show and I was just like her. Not so much in appearance, but more in mannerisms and speech.

I wish I was like Fannie Flagg in that she's published quite a few books. I loved Fried Green Tomatoes. Her subsequent books were entertaining, but inconsequential. I do like her, though, so I'll add her to the list of things I'm thankful for today:

1. Gravy
2. Fannie Flagg