A week of Thanks

Here comes Thanksgiving!

Although who would know it, with all the ho-ho-ho-liday advertisements, catalogs and merchandise in the stores?

Our mailbox is jammed every day with catalogs, the bell-ringin' folks are already positioned outside stores and offices collecting money in red kettles, and pretty much every elevator I've gotten in to lately is playing some version of some holiday song -- traditional Jingle Bells; Techo-Jingle Bells; Alvin and the Chipmunks Jingle Bells...

I certainly can understand that retailers are a little worried about their sales this year. What, with gas over $3.00 a gallon and the adjustable rate mortgage problems, there is a whole lot less money available for cool presents to give / receive this year.

But the merchandisers and marketers are really pushing the calendar this year, in my opinion.

Heck, there was holiday stuff out in some stores as early as September.

Can we just slow down a little? Can we enjoy the moment and season we are in? Puleeze???

Let's give a little time and respect to the November holidays: my birthday (okay, so it isn't an official holiday, it is a day that is special to me....) and Thanksgiving.

This year, Hubby and I will be traveling to San Francisco to spend time with my brother, his wife, one of my nieces, my older sister, my sister-in-law's mom and who knows who else. My younger sister and her husband will stay here this year, and Hubby's kids spend the day with their mom. Sabrina has to work on Friday, so after she spend some time with her mom and family, she'll be back at our house with the cats.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing my family, hanging out for a few days, being relaxed and having some fun.

Why else do I love Thanksgiving? You mean besides the food (yum) and the fact I can sleep in pretty much as long as I want to?

I love the whole concept of taking some time this week to be conscious about giving thanks and being grateful.

During my "normal" life, I sometimes forget to practice gratitude. I try to remember to list the things I'm grateful for every night -- at least in my head, but sometimes I fall asleep too fast to get through the list.

I also find that running or just being outside allows me some space to say a little "thank you" to the gods above for my life, my health, my friends and my family.

This week, though, is the time of year where being grateful "out loud" comes easier:

1) I'm grateful for my health. I spent years abusing my body with too much alcohol and too much food. It hung in there with me until I could get it together. Now I try to treat it with some respect by eating better (not perfectly but much better), not drinking at all, and embracing physical activity. It's my little way of saying "thanks for not giving up on me".

2) I'm grateful for my Hubby. A man who makes me laugh every day, who is kind and loving and handsome. He is caring, interesting and very smart -- plus, he puts up with my shenanigans on a daily basis. I love him with my whole heart.

3) I'm grateful for my friends: my sister and probably my best friend, Tina, Mary K, Marcia, Nat, Adrienne, Cheryl, Dori, Bev, Liz, Cindy, Ginna, Kathy T, Bea, Nancy, Mary B, Amy P, Luis, Gary, Adam, David, Marty, Tom, Derek. These are people I've know forever or for just a short time and each has taught me many important things either through experience or by example or both.

4) I'm grateful for my family. I miss my parents more than I can express, but I'm very glad that I have good relationships with my siblings, with Hubby's children (although I'm pretty sure they both sometimes consider me to be the Evil Step Mom), his parents and his siblings.

5) I'm grateful for having a ROCKING year running and doing tri's. I PR'd in every event but one this year. For an middle-aged broad, that is pretty darn good.

6) I'm grateful for my cats. Gorby, Callie, Lefty and Kirby are all bundles of joy that I could not live with out.

I'm grateful for dinner, which Hubby just made for me and is hot and waiting for me on the table. He is calling, so I've got to run for now....

If I don't get back to post before Thursday, I hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!