The others. Or what happened this Thanksgiving.

Last night I was down a bit. This week was not turning out well. My disability check that was supposed to come this week didn't and won't until next week.

No money, sitting alone in my X's house (house sitting), not enough gas to head to my sister's house down south for Thanksgiving. Looked like it would just be me and the animals.

But I was thankful (albeit a tad sad). There are parents who have lost their kids (3 in a plane crash last night, 1 when the father killed his 2 year old and left her in a car seat in a creek after picking her up from her mom).

Homeless families who would trade places in a heart beat to be in a nice warm house with two cats and dog and food in the fridge, a tv, the net, etc.

Sure, I would like more. But I had the important things.

And I was happy to for all those who were able to be with the ones they loved. I like to see others happy. I knew my daughter was having a great time out west, that friends were with family they had not seen in a long time. And happy that my son was home from Iraq and eating with his family instead of dodging IEDS.

At around 10 pm a knock on the back door. The lady next door asked me if I wanted to come over for Thanksgiving family at 2 pm. Shortly before going over I walked to my house down the street to grab my meds and my dad was home instead of at my sister's house. My nephew was sick and they canceled dinner at my sister's, so my brother was making it. Had be there at 4 pm.

I am thankful, not just today, but everyday for all the things I have - more thankful for that than sad for what I don't have or could have.

The others - and there are many, are sitting at the hospital with a dying loved one, sitting alone on a park bench hoping it does not get too cold. To them I am the 1%, I have all they dream of. I have problems, and I will still complain about them, but it is good to remember at times the problems I don't have.

Hope your days bring you joy.

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You are celebrating the bounties that too many of us forget about... and
even better -- SHARING the reasons for your celebration.
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You done GOOD today, my friend.
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Today is a day to make a gratitude list. I've been feeling down, myself. I'm alone and sad, lost my mother two months ago and that sure puts a pall on the holiday season, as well as not being where I'd like to be. But I'm warm and safe and made a nice dinner. My dog is fine and he's with me. And I have DU. Thanks so much for the reminder that I do have a lot to be grateful for, after all. :hug:

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It's been even tougher since it was so sudden, an accident. She fell down the stairs during a power outage we had here due to Hurricane Irene. She broke her neck. She spent three weeks in intensive care and I was hopeful, but the doctors just ran out of options, and she was in the best hospital in the area. I drove 110 miles every day to see her. It's still hard to take in... ;( :hug:

Bought my first house, things were going well. Then mom went into the hospital. Instead of coming to my house on thanksgiving she was in the hospital. She finally got out, then went back in Dec 24, then died on Jan 31.

The holiday times can hit me hard. I made some videos of my mom to make me feel better, didn't know what else to do at the time.

Hope tomorrow and the days following find you happier.

to get my footing again. I have so much to be thankful for I can't count them. I hear you, Straight Story. I wish you the best. It can only get better. There are champions camping in cities all over this world fighting for all of us. We cannot lose.

I obviously do know how you feel. I feel additionally guilty because I didn't go to see her often, even though I'm back in the area, since my FReeper brother lived with her and took every opportunity to make me as uncomfortable as possible. The tables have turned, though. I had to be the one to take charge of things, since he's just not capable, and now he's kind of my responsibility. :(

The holidays were rough before, since I lost my father between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 1990, and things just haven't been the same since. I sure can sympathize. Losing a parent, especially suddenly, shakes your world... :hug:

I obviously do know how you feel. I feel additionally guilty because I didn't go to see her often, even though I'm back in the area, since my FReeper brother lived with her and took every opportunity to make me as uncomfortable as possible. The tables have turned, though. I had to be the one to take charge of things, since he's just not capable, and now he's kind of my responsibility. :(

The holidays were rough before, since I lost my father between Thanksgiving and Christmas in 1990, and things just haven't been the same since. I sure can sympathize. Losing a parent, especially suddenly, shakes your world... :hug: