Our Version of Thanksgiving

We don't do the whole happy pilgrims and indians thing here, but we do use this day to think about the things in this life which are blessings. And we have a huge vegetarian harvest feast, heavy on the beans, corn and squash...

Top of my list of things to be thankful for:

• My dad came through emergency surgery this week with flying colors and will probably have much better quality of life going forward (if he behaves himself and allows his body time to recover. I suggested my mother duct tape his ankles if he doesn't behave. (This is the man who climbed and pruned a tree one day after pacemaker surgery. A good patient he is not.))
  
  
• Mikro. The great joy of my life, this wonderful little person who sees the world through eyes of wonder and drags me along for the ride.
  
  
• Kevin. My best friend for 30 years now, husband for almost 20. Sometimes we drive each other nuts, but the love is always there, under the crazy. (We always fight at the holidays, a tradition I would rather change, but it seems as inevitable as breathing. At least we got it out of the way early and have now made up.)
  
  
• My mom. She's finally accepted that I parent differently than she did back in the 60s, and she's seen the good come of my way in the sweet, loving and passionately curious person her grandson is. She has even become a fan of homeschooling! We are back to the great relationship we had pre-Mikro, and I am grateful to have her back as my friend, as well as my mom!
  
  
• Wild places nearby where we can enjoy the beauty of nature.
  
  
• Still being able to walk, albeit gimpily. Arthritis is kicking my butt, but I am more stubborn than it is.
  
  
• Having enough. Not a lot extra, and no cushion. We have certainly done better financially, but so many have it worse than we do.
  
  
• The homeschool community, where Mikro and I have both found good friends, great fun and lots of inspiration.
  
  
• Cherished friends I have known for what seems like forever. Becca, Cindy, Vicky, Leela. I have to do a better job keeping in touch than I've done this year. You are all my sisters, as far as my heart is concerned.
  
  
• My online friends, who have been there through the good and the bad.
  
  
• Hope. I lived a long time without it, feeling sorry for myself after the accident, and it makes all the difference.

This is the first year that Mikro helped me prepare our dinner. He snapped green beans and learned how to peel potatoes. More practice needed there, but he tried!

And best of all, he ate his dinner! Green beans, broccoli, sweet potato, acorn squash, carrots, refried beans (a Mikro request), a couple of tiny potatoes harvested from our garden, corn, and even a taste of cranberry sauce (which he says has a good taste, but not such a good texture...) Mikro loves the 3 sisters, and sweet potatoes, but he hates broccoli with a passion. Nevertheless, my very picky, food phobic food allergy boy was so eager to eat, that he had a hard time being patient as I read the Mohawk Thanksgiving address (in English. If I can read it in Mohawk someday, I will be thrilled.)





I spent half the day on the phone to my parents, checking up on my Dad, who seems to be doing well. Very thankful for that!