Let’s start out Thanksgiving on a sincere note of gratitude. My Covid test was negative and I am back home on the Ponderosa! Mr. FixIt was one happy guy when I pulled in that driveway. I was pretty darned excited myself. I stopped at the Piggly Wiggly on the way home to get a few things. I texted ahead to ask my sweetie to bring the wagon out to the truck to carry all this stuff into the house. I was loaded to the brim with clean laundry.

Thanksgiving 2020 almost sounds like a dichotomy. But even in the midst of all that’s going on today, there are still things to be thankful for. If you’re like me, we don’t get to celebrate this year like we have in the past. Usually, I’m up to my armpits in alligators by this time of the day…baking a huge turkey, pans of dressing, rolls, and several side dishes, not to mention all the pies. This year, we took advantage of the offer of a free meal delivered around noon…sponsored by our little town. 

The kids will all be having their meals in their own bubbles. We will video chat with as many of them as we can. There are two things right there to be thankful for…their health and the technology that lets us see each other across the miles. I had every intention of baking pumpkin pies when I got home yesterday, but by the time we got the truck emptied and things put away, I was happy to sit down with my sweetheart and watch the last two episodes of The Voice. There’s another thing to be thankful for…the technology that enables us to sit down and watch something together that aired earlier.

I’ll back a couple of the pie pumpkins I bought this fall and make some pumpkin pies this afternoon. Perhaps we’ll get the tree out and decorate it. Maybe there will be football. Absolutely there will be phone calls. I can start the Christmas cards. I can package up some Christmas ornaments I made for my friend Lesa to decorate the Girl Camper tree at Custer State Park so I can pop them in the mail tomorrow. 

With all the tragic loss of life to Covid, I cannot help but think of all those whose table has an empty chair this year. Perhaps more than one. I am so thankful that those I know who have had Covid…some more than once…have recovered or are currently on the mend. I thank God we have not lost someone close. However, I remember all too well the pain of that first Thanksgiving after losing Mr. Virgo. Those firsts…and often the seconds…are so terribly hard to get through and my heart goes out to any of you who are grieving a loss this year.

My sincerest wish for all of you is good health. May you all find something to be thankful for…no matter how small.

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“Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 CEV