Me and my drum ...

Early in the morning Ada greets me as I sit down by the computer. She rubs her head on my hands over and over again. I reach into the drawer and pull out her treats and she rubs her head on the bag as I open it. I watch her in wonder at her gratitude. "We should all be so thankful for such small mercies," I think to myself. Ada does not ask for much. A warm spot to sleep, food and water and a daily clean litter box. Every now and again some tuna or shrimp and a small ritual of treats out of a bag with me each morning.

I have been thinking about gratitude quite a bit lately. Can't help it. 'Tis the season for it. It seems that as the leaves turn and fall, thankfulness rises. I have much to be thankful for this season:

• Ada Mae
• After 14 years I have just paid the very last installment of a large and onerous debt from a former, bad marriage, and with that I can finally bid farewell to a really painful, shameful part of my life
• Feeling included and appreciated in my job
• Outstanding friends whom I love with all my heart
• I have forgiven me, my past, let go of bitterness, regret and hurt, and given me back my family
• I am fortunate to be writing a book whose subject I have been pondering for over twenty years
• My son coming to us for Thanksgiving this year!
• Relationships - of all kinds - for they are all that matter to me now
• And, yes, I am thankful for this blog for it has brought into my life a community of friends - people whom I would otherwise never have had the privilege to know - people the likes of whom I have never known. It has broadened my world view and expanded the world. It has brought, and keeps on bringing, hundreds of my father's family into my life ever since I shared my story of Rodos.

Oh yes, and I am also thankful for that sweet voice of Josh Groban especially as he sings Little Drummer Boy to me on my commute back and forth from work lately ...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO

ALL MY FRIENDS EVERYWHERE

A year ago at Mining Nuggets: Some of the best days of my life

Comments

[tamarika]

Thanks to Kay and Moa for your greetings! Sandra, nice to meet you. Thanks for stopping by.

Dean ... LOL ... am speechless ... if you can believe that.

[Kay Dennison]

I like your list a lot, Tamar!!! We all have a list like that if we just think about it. When life gets too lifelike we tend to forget about it. I think I'm going to make a thankful list myself and print it and frame it and hang it over my desk as a reminder on days when I need it.

[Sandra Evertson]

Great blog!
Sandra Evertson

[Mo'a]

Thank you for visiting my blog it was such a pleasure to see you there.
Your thankful list is wonderful...thank you for sharing.
I also love what the blog world has done for me...how rich our lives have become through this lovely medium.

[Dean Landsman]

Gosh, I thought this was perhaps going to be a post about Gunter Grass. Ok, only a minor disappointment on an otherwise lovely and VERY QUIET day. :-)