It is our Thanksgiving Weekend, and of course one of my favourite traditions is eating far too much. I’m not sure how mom was able to make suppers like this almost every Sunday or special occasions, as I find putting on a holiday meal, with all of the trimmings takes me most of the day. The meal? Turkey, of course, mashed potatoes, mashed turnip, two salads, gravy, dressing (which I’m happy to say is finally beginning to approach mom’s dressing in flavour), glazed carrots and chocolate cake, with raspberry filling and peppermint icing (a favourite of mine all my life, since in approximates that cake that my grandma made).
It was a small gathering, Leah, Travis, and I, Gary and one of Leah’s sisters Sheba. Travis, is going to have to get used to the Kines family grace that we sing (or stop being such a critic of dad’s singing) as he screamed at me to stop all during my rendition of it. I did manage to avoid the dishes when I was called out to a search and rescue. We dealt with that in fairly quick order (it was a fellow stranded not too far from town with a broken outboard, a relative had gone out to get him before the 20 knot wind that was forecast sprung up), and then Travis, Leah and I spent a couple of hours at the house, Leah cleaning our filthy professional range and helping me with vanities, I worked on vanities and Travis? Well Travis tried his best to hammer screws in the vanities. He sure wants to help.
And now with Travis asleep in his bed, and Leah asleep on the couch I have the time to sit and reflect on the many people and things I have to be thankful for in my life. Of course I’m thankful for Leah and the love that we have found, and Travis, who means the world to me. I’m thankful for the incredibly warm feeling of joy that washes over me in the mornings when Travis staggers out of the bedroom in the morning, still groggy from sleep until he breaks into the biggest smile when he sees me and runs into my arms. I’m thankful for my parents, for their continued health, for their two greatest gifts to me… roots and wings. I’m thankful for all the lessons they have taught me, especially the lesson of unconditional love. I’m thankful for my brother and sister and their families, the joy that they bring to my life. I’m thankful that Janice and I had our time together in this world, and the joy and the lessons that she brought me. Hmm, I’ve barely gotten started and this is going to go on.. My health and that of my families, living in a world filled with wonder, friends who span the world, the experiences and skills that life in the RCMP gave me, and on and on.
I know, and have known for some time, that I am a very lucky man. That my life has not had the misery that touches so many in this world. Many people do not find great love in their life, I’ve found it twice. I’ve never been without work, and have never gone hungry. I’ve wanted for nothing in my life. Life is good and I know that it isn’t for much of this world. I have much to thankful for. And I am, I truly am.
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Happy Thanksgiving, Clare, to you and yours. It really doesn’t take much sometimes, does it?
Gratitude is truly a way of life- Happy Thanksgiving Clare 🙂