I don't know how it got to be the middle of November. Wasn't I just buying a bunch of pumpkins and taking down the summer hanging pots? I know I have taken to having afternoon naps like our resident felines, but I couldn't have slept for three weeks. I never miss a meal.
Before the world turns white and we are singing carols, I want to take some time for a proper thanksgiving. Not the kind with turkey and three kinds of pie but the deeply meditative moments when we reflect on the important reasons we all have for gratitude. Each of us has different ideas, but I'll share mine with you to start the thanks ball rolling.
This year, I am extremely thankful for pets. Tommy and Cubby -- the cats of the manor -- arrived last November right after the holiday. The cute 8-month-old pair took a while to settle in, and we had to remember how to deal with kitties after a six-year hiatus. But week by week and month by month, the darling daring duo squirmed their way into our hearts. From hiding in the pantry for the first three weeks, they have now claimed ownership of every piece of furniture and square of flooring in the house. Tommy sits on my lap when I'm watching television, and Cubby hops up on my chest in the morning to let me know it's time to rise and shine.
They amuse us in ever-changing, entertaining ways. Their new favorite toy is a leash with collar attached, which we were supposed to put on one of them to go to their first vet visit. Suffice it to say, Cubby wouldn't cooperate, and we are too old and inflexible to crawl under the furniture to get him out. They also enjoy playing with a length of brown rickrack, a spool of dental floss and any empty bag. Store-bought toys are relegated to the space behind the sofa. They make us smile every day and grind our teeth occasionally when we discover all the things they have knocked off the kitchen counter in the middle of the night. We love them to bits and are extremely grateful to the Berkshire Humane Society for introducing us.
It might seem a little odd, but I am thankful for words: big words, little words, colorful words and especially alliterative words. How could I have an essay without them? I like the sound of words, the shape of words and the look of words spilled down the page in poetry. Words are magic; they can change a mood, provide directions and change the course of history. My favorite word book is Roget's Thesaurus, where you can always find the very right word. As Mark Twain aptly observed: "The difference between the almost-right word and the right word is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
Lastly, for this year's list, I am thankful for laughter. Giggles are good, guffaws are better and giant, ear-shattering belly laughs are best. Way back when, Readers Digest had a column titled "Laughter is the best medicine." Many doctors agree wholeheartedly. Laughter improves your outlook, lowers your blood pressure and makes a dull day brighter. I always read the comics in the newspaper right after I read the "Irish funnies" -- an irreverent way to refer to obituaries. You can always find a smile among the comic strips and be thankful your name is not listed in the death notices. I am always grateful that I wake up on the "right side of the grass."
If you can't find a reason to be thankful this month, turn off the television and the phone, take a walk and look around. There are hundreds of reasons to be grateful right under your nose.