I am grateful, most of all, for Rick. Rick will drive the speed limit, curse vigorously at the potholes (and in Michigan that means a lot of cursing!), bemoans football on TV non-stop, has rabbit ears for his television set (he can get all the cable he needs -- and he doesn't need much -- at my house) and has a kitchen table stacked like the normal curve. And he's always right. Just ask him!
And none of that matters. (In fact, it gives some good fodder for teasing!)
Would anyone but Rick have befriended a schizophrenic man who "picked him up" at Panera, helping him with some of the mechanics of social services, sharing birthday lunches with him, occasionally having him for dinner and serving as his local emergency contact? His friend can be very trying, but that's what makes it special.
I've never seen a man love his grandchildren more than Rick does his toddler twosome. I'm sure some of you may argue with me on this and claim you and yours love their grands more. I will disagree. Not more. As much, I certainly hope so!
And no one could be supportive of me, especially when waiting for test results or when I'm missing my mom and dad, who will listen to me cry, understand how scared I might be and never, ever, let's me feel he will be anywhere but there for me. No matter what.
I am grateful for my family. I'm an only child. My cousins are more like siblings and we spent almost every summer together from the time I was 13 until I graduated from college. Our mothers died seven months apart. The first Thanksgiving without them would have been unbearable without each other.
More than 40 years have passed since that above photo was taken. Since then, the dads have left the picture but new faces have joined in, each and every one a treasure.
I am grateful for the friends who bless our lives and who come through when we so need their support. This photo was taken a number of years ago after Rick's serious cycling accident. On that Thanksgiving morning, we decided to host dinner for friends who weren't otherwise engaged. No planning, no party favors. Just food and friendship. It is possibly my favorite Thanksgiving. It's not a great photo, but the friendship more than makes up for it.
I am equally grateful for blog friends, whose visits and comments never fail to make me smile; whose blogs continually teach and inspire me and whose support over the years has been a touchstone. You are incredibly special to me.
I am grateful to have a home I love, a cat that makes it hairy and for whatever talent I may have been fortunate to have or acquire.
I am grateful to be able to say I feel safe. Safety is so very important in this world and so many can't experience it.
And I am grateful that despite a very rough year for Rick and me physically, we continue to soldier on. You'd never know he broke his leg. The jury is out on me, but I am always the optimist and hopefully not having to deal with anything worse than a routine colonoscopy for awhile.
I am grateful for the bounty that exists in my world. I know in many ways I am one of the lucky ones and I try to give it back and pay it forward. But I will never forget that I am very fortunate indeed.
And so, during this Thanksgiving season (if you are in the U.S.), harvest time elsewhere or the start of the busy season, whether it is "your" holiday or not, I hope you'll take time to relax and enjoy for a day or two or three.
After all, we're all going to be very tired and very busy, and very soon!
36 comments:
We have so many blessings to count! What a beautifully written post. You inspire us all with your lovely spirit and amazing talent! Happy Thanksgiving my friend!
Wonderful way to count your many blessings Jeanie! Have a special day!
Jenna
Wonderful post, Jeanie. I've said it before but I'll say it again. You and Rick really know the secret of living well and being in a relationship that works equally well for both of you. Appreciating the love ones in our lives, expressing our joys out loud and good wine makes the world a better place. Happy thanksgiving.
A beautiful tribute to friends, family and that special guy.
Lovely list, Jeanie. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Rick! :-)
So much to be grateful for. So happy for all the blessings that you have in your life. For mine as well.
Lovely Thanksgiving to you Jeanie!
We don't have a Thanksgiving holiday,but I thank God everyday for what I have and what I do not have.
You've compiled some very lovely, relevant photos for this post. They give the right
idea about Thanksgiving celebration in your family and friends' group.
Happy Thanksgiving!
What a yawn.
Beautiful written, Jeanie.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Beautiful loving, grateful post . . .
Loved hearing your “gratefuls” Jeanie.
There are many of us who are very happy to say, I sure am grateful for Jeanne Croope!
Great opening, word- and artwise, Jeanie.
This was a very lovely read, you got a very great man there!
Yes, thankful. Without my Brother our parent´s deaths would´ve been unbearable, good thing you had those cousins by your side!
I agree, friendship is more of worth than good food (but, wee, good food is a pleasure, too ;-)...)
Oh, yes, blogger friends had helped me through when Ingo was so severly sick - and it was and is a pleasure that some have become also real ones to visit, if seldom cause of the distance.
Yes, having a home and (more or less) safety.
Lots to be grateful for! I´m wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving, and ohhh, I love that last pic, too :-)
A beautiful tribute to family, Rick, friends, and Lizzie!
Your blessings are made so beautiful by the way you portray them and appreciate your family and friends. Such a remarkable post!
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Jeanie, we are so blessed my friend. Thank you for your blogging friendship, you are a sweetheart. Your post is filled with blessings!
Jeanie, such an uplifting post! Whenever I find myself moaning about some little thing, I remind myself of some of the very things you listed. And your pumpkin is perfect! Stay cozy.
Dearest Jeanie,
Love reading this, your journalism talents shine bright and are delightful to read.
Many of us have seemed to arrive at the "age," of some mechanical malfunctions. Our move to high altitude living seems to have exasperated ours.
So, I am thinking of you and wishing you and Rick good health,continued joy, and always such zest and zeal for life!
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend,
Jemma
What a lovely post. I am thankful that you have shared it with all of us. Thank you, I enjoyed it very much...
Oh Lizzie's yawn is so cute. I love your list of gratefulness. How special to have Rick and cousins in your life, plus good friends too. Even though we grumble at the state of things these days, we do have a lot to be grateful for.
This was a wonderful post to read and look at.
I hope you and Rick had a Happy Thanksgiving.
My good wishes.
All the best Jan
I hope you had a wonderful holiday Jeanie. Isn't it amazing how many wonderful things we have in our lives when we really look. This is a beautiful post. Hugs-Erika
Happy Thanksgiving, Jeanie and Rick!
From Cath in Australia.
Dear Jeanie, how I love this post. It almost made me cry it was so beautifully written. I am most grateful for having connected with you and your uplifting blog. You always make me smile. We share being an only child and I am also married to an only child. We do not have extended families, but are blessed with dear friends. I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and that you will have a beautiful holiday season.
ps. I so admire your art.
Love your watercolor and this beautiful post. Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful - get ready for Christmas, here it comes!
What a wonderful look back on your family pictures and memories. Your artwork, of course, is always beautiful.
I am so glad that you have Rick in your life. He sounds like a special man...and I know he must have some faults but his goodness outweighs all of them. xo Diana
Such a beautiful post, and so many wonderful things to be thankful for. I'm glad you're blessed with so many wonderful people - and animals, because you can't forget Lizzie - in your life.
Such a beautiful post and lovely tribute to all the special people in your life. You are a special person to me also though I've only met you in blog land you make my life brighter by being you. Hugs. xx
Great post...loving the yawn at the end. Sharp little teeth!! Hoping you had a great Thanksgiving.
So much to be thankful for. Great family photos Jeanie! How wonderful Ricky has befriended someone with schizophrenia. It must be so difficult to live such a disorder that make others avoid the individual. I am loving those furry friend photos too!
i love your watercolours and your gorgeous family and friends photos. always a good idea to remember to be grateful for our lives. we are very lucky to be living in the 'first world'. there are so many others living precarious lives out there. have a great month. cheers sherry
Hi Jeanie! Oh, what a lovely post of your thankfulness! We are so blessed, aren't we? I'm an only child too and felt the same way about my cousins but we moved far away and our specialness isn't as close as it use to be. I know you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I always love seeing your beautiful artwork.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
What is Thanksgiving for, if not to take stock of what really matters in our lives? You are blessed to have much to be grateful for......and may it always be so!
Best Wishes to you and yours Jeanie. I hope your health doesn't give you too many more scares.
There's no thanksgiving in Poland, but I try to remember about nice things which happen to me all the time.
Sometimes it's hard, but at least I'm trying to.
It's so precious to have someone we love our lives. It's much easier to walk through the life with someone who take caer of us.
Our loved ones, family, friends.
I'm glad that you feel happy and that you can appreciate everyone and everything around you. I would like to be so optimistic as you.
It's always a good thing to remember and be thankful for the important people in our lives, not just on one special day, but all the time. I'm thankful, as well, for family and friends and my best friend (my husband). Also, I am thankful for the blogging community and for people sharing their thoughts, concerns, and joyful stories through their words and photos. It expands my world and for that I'm most grateful.
Wonderful post. I try to be thankful every day. Japan doesn’t celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, but I have my memories.
I came to this via your "favourite posts" ... I haven't been so much in Blogland recently and I missed it first time round. What a lovely post, though, and it really warms the heart to read it. There really isn't anything to beat good friends and family.
We hope to see Rick again later this year! What a warm and friendly person he is.
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