Dear Reader:

Unlike modern-day Christmas advertising…I don’t like to jump from Halloween to Christmas. In fact Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Besides cooking the turkey…with help from guests’ side dishes….the central theme is more about gathering and re-uniting than anything else. No presents, no over-zealous expectations to try to live up to…just friends and family, hugs and kisses. It’s the best kind of holiday!

I do believe this Thanksgiving I will be more grateful than ever for being here and overcoming the health challenges that threatened to dampen the season. I might have to make some modifications but the act of gathering loved ones can never be changed. I think the word Gathering brings such warm feelings for just the memories the word construes. Home, security,  family, friends topped off by love. (And a little comfort food doesn’t hurt either!:)

I have so much to be grateful for…I took a sharp detour and got lost temporarily along my path but my loved ones’ search party found me and got me back on the right road again. For all of you I give thanks!

Yesterday wasn’t a “Silent Night” but it really was calm and bright. It was a beautiful sunny low 70’s fall day…the air was crisp and the sounds of football games, lawn cuttings, and children’s peals of laughter at play filled the day with nostalgia.

I woke up feeling better than I had in a long time…actually got a few home chores done early…and I loved that renewed sense of accomplishment after so much sitting, sitting, sitting.

Around noon Anne arrived with barbecue and vegetables from Dukes (one of our favorite haunts out in the country-Ridgeville)….it was delicious and we had the best time catching up with our lives.

Doodle and Carrie arrived as Anne was leaving….bringing me some warm bedroom booties to keep my toes warm while I was keeping them elevated in my chair. Always arriving with the right things at the right time….it was actually a little chilly in the room.

Around mid-afternoon what should I hear but the little footsteps of Stephanie, dear, with Laurel in the rear. If something is going on in Summerville, you can bet this mother-daughter team are there…and yesterday (finally) The Bundt Cake Store opened and guess what I got! (DELICIOUS!) They brought me a personal pumpkin spice cake and a chocolate, chocolate, chip cake. I died and went to heaven.

Vickie heated up some lasagna John and Mandy gave me in a casserole dish and brought over for supper….I mean can life possibly get any better?

A beautiful day….so bright….and so calm….just friends, laughter, and lots of delicious food!

Once again, for the third week….the Clemson Tigers played it so “bright” and the score was so lopsided (our way) that I could remain calm throughout the game and just enjoy it. Go Tigers!

Thanks for helping my recovery and blood pressure by taking the stress out of the game!

So until tomorrow…Saturday will be a day to remember when hope loomed larger than before… and I felt a return to normalcy or at least a lot closer to it than before. It was a good day for a good day. 

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Some more of Lassie’s garden photos…