A Live Coal In The Sea

I find thankfulness is the perfect antidote to the everyday blues. Mine have seemed legendary to me, much more than "everyday" blues. I have after all, "broken my butt" as KL so delicately puts it. I have, after all, been thrown a fever or four and a chicken drama, novel writing failure, dead and dying vehicles, frantic cleaning for housesitters while feverish and gimpy as all getout (this list of trials is getting too long to track, isn't it?). And, after all of that, I would just like a minute. Of the pity party variety. But my life has no time for moping, and a pity it is indeed that I am too busy to feel sorry for myself.

Which is why I'm so particularly grateful for Thanksgiving. The cynic in me can hardly stand the apparent smarminess of that phrase, but it's true, actually -- I am grateful for a day set aside for giving thanks.

We Suite types were blessed to have four days this year dedicated to family and all that we are truly thankful for.

And in the midst of that, there's no feeling sorry for yourself. The sheer beauty of my nieces and nephews, of great-grandmas and grandmas and new husbands and a perfectly cooked organic turkey ("It has no timer thingy!")... the sheer beauty of a windless, fogless day at the ocean... the sheer beauty of life... I am so thankful, and humbled, to be witness to and participant in this messy yet glorious life.