I dread the holiday season. It becomes just a grand old pity party for me personally. At a time when families gather to celebrate, I am painfully reminded that my family has dwindled to just my brother and me. (Actually, there are still a couple of Aunts, an Uncle and a couple handfuls of cousins still out there, but that’s ANOTHER story…)
I was doing lunch the other day with one of my coworkers, Karen. She was telling me about her plans for this holiday weekend. She mentioned that another coworker, Val, was heading to Milwaukee to spend the holiday with her husband’s family – and how thankful they were that they were dragging along her mother-in-law. The MIL, I learned, is a devout Jehovah’s Witness who doesn’t believe in holidays, birthdays or any type of personal occasions (she had to be blackmailed into attending their wedding). I blurted out, “Oh my God, I’m a Jehovah’s Witness!!” (Oh, I “believe” in holidays, birthdays, weddings – but I don’t actively “participate” in them.)
Our Thanksgiving dinner tonight consisted of homemade vegetable soup and rolls (a far cry from the turkey dinners of days gone by). Ironically, a turkey, graciously supplied by the management of my-dead-end-job™, sits in the freezer awaiting consumption (perhaps at Christmas if we’re so motivated). The soup won out today, as I didn’t feel like Pizza Rolls or Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps.
Having a day set aside to count our blessings is wasted on me – I try to be thankful daily for the blessings that I have. Some days, unfortunately, the minutia of the day overshadows my cognizance of my blessings.
I am, however, deeply thankful for the following:
A brother who just happens to be my best friend, cheerleader and counselor.
Two dogs who love me – bad hair days and all.
Five cats who accept me as their guardian, albeit rather reluctantly. (They will never admit it publicly, but they’re just as glad to see me at the end of a long workday as the dogs are).
Friends, near and far, who listen to (OK, read) my rants.
Being a citizen of the United States where I have personal freedom, a healthcare system that works, food and natural resources aplenty. I try not to take any of things for granted, but perhaps it’s a good thing to acknowledge them publicly once in a while.
Peace.