Dear Reader:

Yesterday was spent taking down all my “Boo” signs…it is always a sad day…especially this year…since I “out-booed” myself for sure.

It is time to say good-bye to Halloween with all its “boo’s” and hello to blessing and thanksgiving. (But I must admit it is so much fun having my grandmother “nickname” as Boo in October…I wouldn’t trade it for any other name.)

I did decide to keep two Boo’s …one inside in the Happy Room on the bright yellow wall and then my Boo’s Blessing sign on the outside front porch.

Sis Kinney sent me an email thanking everyone for their prayers as she faces this health crisis in her life. She said that (like her mom used to say) “How thoughty that was of everyone.”

The more I thought about the word…the more it made me smile…the more I liked it…we are now entering my favorite holiday season…Thanksgiving. And isn’t Thanksgiving all about being “thoughty?”

So why don’t we all pause for a moment and think of some “thoughty thoughts” on the blessings we have received…past, present, and future. Let me start with a short list of my own…but I would love to hear back from all of you (adding on to the list) about a special ‘thoughty thought‘ for this month of blessings.

1. The three most important things to remember in life: “Be kind! Be kind! Be Kind!”

2. It’s not about me. Life is to be lived for others, not in the narcissistic world of me, me, me.  Never from the perspective of ‘What can I gain from this friendship or collaboration? ‘

3. Time is the greatest gift…don’t ever take it for granted.

Now it is your turn…think of one ‘thoughty thought’ you would be willing to share with all of us as we recount our blessings this upcoming ‘Thoughty Thanksgiving’ Day! I can hardly wait to hear back from you.

The Pumpkin

John Greenleaf Whittier

Oh, greenly and fair in the lands of the sun, The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run, And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold, With broad leaves all greenness and blossoms all gold, Like that which o’er Nineveh’s prophet once grew, While he waited to know that his warning was true, And longed for the storm-cloud, and listened in vain For the rush of the whirlwind and red fire-rain.

On the banks of the Xenil the dark Spanish maiden Comes up with the fruit of the tangled vine laden; And the Creole of Cuba laughs out to behold Through orange-leaves shining the broad spheres of gold; Yet with dearer delight from his home in the North, On the fields of his harvest the Yankee looks forth, Where crook-necks are coiling and yellow fruit shines, And the sun of September melts down on his vines.

Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West, From North and from South comes the pilgrim and guest; When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board The old broken links of affection restored; When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more, And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before; What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye, What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?

Oh, fruit loved of boyhood! the old days recalling,When wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling! When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin, Glaring out through the dark with a candle within! When we laughed round the corn-heap, with hearts all in tune, Our chair a broad pumpkin, — our lantern the moon, Telling tales of the fairy who travelled like steam In a pumpkin-shell coach, with two rats for her team!

Then thanks for thy present! none sweeter or better E’er smoked from an oven or circled a platter! Fairer hands never wrought at a pastry more fine, Brighter eyes never watched o’er its baking, than thine! And the prayer, which my mouth is too full to express, Swells my heart that thy shadow may never be less, That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below, And the fame of thy worth like a pumpkin-vine grow, And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky Golden-tinted and fair as thy own Pumpkin pie!

So until tomorrow…Thankful, Grateful, Blessed!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh