Happy Thanksgiving

If you dig deep enough into the my family tree, there are a couple of Mayflower connections, my ancestors were at the first Thanksgiving in the new world.  Giving thanks for having survived the year, for a harvest that was sufficient to see them through the winter, for peace with their neighbors.  

So here we are today.  Few of us have struggled to bring in a harvest, but I am thankful for the farmers who do.  Having grown up on a funny farm I know what it takes, the risks and rewards of agriculture and I am thankful for year without famine.  

I don't feel a threat to my safety from my neighbors, there are threats in our world, more so than there should be, if we could all learn to let others live their lives without trying to impose our standards on the world.  

I have much to be thankful for. I have traveled a lot, 48 states, and over a dozen countries. I have had opportunities to get an education that leaves me with more formal education than 99.3% of the worlds' population. Education has opened doors for me to help improve the lives of other, and allowed me to earn a decent living. I have a comfortable home.  I have a little money in the bank, and money set aside for retirement (I worry that it is not enough, but it surprises me when I add up what we have.)  I have a job that pays me comfortably, and provides good health insurance.  I am loved and I love others.  

This has been a challenging year, I knew it would be.  I am thankful that my mother's suffering came to an end, and thankful that my father's suffering was short - as he wished it would be.  I am thankful that they were well cared for and able to live out their lives at home - as they wished.  I am thankful that they had the resources to live out life as they wished, I hope I am as wise with my resources as they were with thiers.  

I am thankful that I am spending this day, with family. 

Have a wonderful day of Thanksgiving.  

What are you thankful for?