Thankful (A Word You Don’t Hear Enough This Time of Year)

During my younger years, there was one Thanksgiving dinner at my house where we went around the dining-room table and each person had to say what s/he was thankful for. Now that I think about it, I was most likely the instigator of the exercise and my inspiration had been a touching scene from a made-for-TV movie. 

The adults’ answers (“good health” and “this family” were tied for #1) seemed vague and dull. Nobody bothered to elaborate much, and that was what I found disappointing. I’m a stickler for specificity and a sucker for statements peppered with colorful details.

I’ve been incredibly anxious these past few days, dealing with and dwelling on all I need want to get done before this week’s holiday. But what’s calming me down, more effectively than the Tension Tamer tea which has actually played a part in riling me up (don’t have enough time or stamina to get into that one right now), is the memory of those self-assured faces around that long-gone Thanksgiving table, when no one felt a pressing need to focus their core concerns on anything (careers, errands, bills, transportation-related inconveniences, grievances with acquaintances) beyond “health and family.”  

I’m in reasonably good health; although I wish more members of the clan were still living, I have my family; I have a set of other loved ones who have become an extension of my family; all of these people are currently in reasonably good health. Nothing else needs to be said, other than that the type of stress I’m presently feeling is a sign of great fortune.