Dear Reader:
The coronavirus has certainly changed many of our daily habits…thus changing our personal time-tables too. Prioritizing time is still important in life…but finding a way to keep family a top priority and close … without risking anyone’s health keeps getting harder instead of easier… as we all had hoped by now.
Thanksgiving this year is appearing in all kinds of forms….family “bubbles” who have continued contacts on special occasions while building up in-house immunities, outside gatherings, technology visits via face time and zoom and small shared gatherings of three or four or less.
At some point in this on-going pandemic…everyone has to make decisions based on their personal choices and others around them. For the first time I am accompanying my son Tommy and his wife Kaitlyn to the mountains where I hope to experience “forest bathing“…immersing oneself in the woods for serenity, quiet conversations with God, inner peace, and just new sights of gorgeous fall weather and beauty to restore my tired eyes from the same-old, same-old.
No matter how we end up celebrating our nation’s day of thanks…surrounded by loved ones physically or virtually, long walks in the woods, long conversations via phone or computer, covid imaginary hugs and fly-away kisses…let us remember, in spite of everything we live in a country where its people are known for being among the most generous people in the world in giving to others in need.
And not just in money…since we are a wealthy nation…but in more important ways.
“Give blood. All you’ll feel is good.”
As this slogan from an American Red Cross campaign illustrates, giving is good for both the recipient and the donor.
Psychologists have conducted experiments to determine if this Red Cross claim is true — and it turns out that this is one slogan that passes the truth-in-advertising test.
People reported experiencing increased moods before and after they donated blood.
We often get a sense of joy from giving a meaningful gift to a loved one, but perhaps no gift is as valuable as our time.
So until tomorrow… On this upcoming Thanksgiving Day...”Let’s make time” for each other, our loved ones, strangers, and those who need help to celebrate Thanksgiving.
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
Yesterday Mollie and I and the children finally made an outing that we had to cancel a couple of times because a regional “monsoon” season descended recently.
In fact it sprinkled on us as we arrived at All Things Acre Petting Zoo in Jedburg yesterday but thank goodness it didn’t last long.
This sweet little petting zoo is all about saving animals from slaughter houses, special needs animals, letting children feed bottles of milk to baby animals of all make-ups…big bottles for calves and little ones for kid goats, puppies…there were chickens and roosters, donkeys, rabbits, and baby pigs. A little something for everyone.
Eloise is “one” of those cupcake girls…just eats the icing..and plop goes the cake..and icing off her ‘chinnie chin chin’! 
A Big Shout-Out to our Ya friend…Jackson…HAPPY BIRTHDAY! NOVEMBER 16!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jackson and I talked yesterday and we agreed, after all she has been though lately… with some extremely unstable health issues of late (understatement of the year)… this birthday will be one of gratitude for difficult obstacles overcome, new adventures to experience… a birthday that will stand out in the test of time through memories of what was and knowledge that the best is yet to be.
We love you Jackson and remember nobody but nobody separates the Ya Ya’s…hurry up and get back with us…we have some front porch talking to do at Pawleys and/or Edisto!
*(Just realized…No one sent me the memo to wear black pants.)