The Observation Deck

Thanksgiving is the holiday where many give thanks.

I will be giving thanks on Thursday for the things I'm always thankful for:

- My beautiful, healthy, successful children,
- My wonderful family,
- A nice place to live and food to eat,
- Great friends,
- A life with meaning and many times, great joy

AND!!!!

I don't need a transplant - my numbers are good and my doctor told me yesterday. If I could I would do a happy dance. Instead I thought I'd share it because it's bursting out of me.

Be thankful my friends, even if for nothing else than those brief moments of joy that we tend to overlook in the day-to-day struggles we have.

Blessings all.

I am thankful that we have a roof over our heads, that we have family to share a meal with, that everybody is relatively healthy, and that we have family and friends who apparently love us unconditionally. And I'm always thankful for the dogs who have appeared in our lives...

Sharon,

You have been in my prayers.

Sharing your joy this evening is the best holiday present that we can receive here on the 'Deck.

It's better than an inspirational sermon by the most gifted of pastors.

It would seem that God is not done with you yet.

Oh I know, Sharon, we've talked about those personal faith experiences, and sometimes they can weave a convoluted and unconventional trail, can they not?

Sometimes we can even lose sight of the great mysteries, in the course of our lives.

But, as it is said in the Native American community, I do believe that you walk on the red road. That is the higher path of love and service to Grandfather (God) and to others.

A friend shared with me that today is not the first day of the REST of your life, but rather the first day of the BEST of your life.

YOU are my reason for thankfulness this evening.

Back to the banjo... to play a part of Beethoven's 9th symphony finale; sometimes called the "Ode to Joy"!

DL - we do.
Gary - you are such a wonderful pretend boyfriend.

Chi Miigwetch, Sharon.

Thank you, in Ojibwe.

Footnote:

The Native American community, (and we do have a surprisingly significant number of Native Americans living in the Greater Cleveland area) has mixed opinions about the time called "Thanksgiving".

There are many stories in that tradition, some quite unpleasant, concerning Native Americans and New England Thanksgiving celebrations; particularly those that transpired in the years following that first Thanksgiving, but this is not the time or place to go into those events, or the greater sad picture that followed in the history of our land.

That historical information is readily available on the web, for those so inclined to do the research.

Normally, local Native Americans have held a Spirit Feast, as an alternative to Thanksgiving.

Still, a sincere thanks, however offered up, and in whatever way, is still a great idea, as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks is a GOOD thing Sharon.

Thanks for this thread, as well!

Back to the banjo...

I am thankful for my friends and family. I realize how very blessed I am for all that I have. It's easy to get caught up in daily life and lose sight of how blessed we are, I know I am guilty of that from time to time. So tomorrow I will certainly be giving thanks for all I have, especially my wonderful children and husband.