ONLY ONE YEAR AGO...

 

Thanksgiving is

 just a couple of days away.  

There is no need to say 

that we will be enjoying 

our Thanksgiving dinner

 separated from the ones we love. 

 We are all in this same boat.

 

 We will miss everyone 

but we will still be thankful 

for what we have and 

talk to each other over

 the phone, Skype, Zoom, or whatever 

is our technology 

of choice.

As we sit down at our table, 

we will enjoy our dinner and 

try to ignore the chaos around us.

 

 Is it just me 

or do we all have such a mess 

preparing for Christmas

 until the final box is emptied?

 

 Every year I have the same wish, 

but for some reason,

 it is never granted! 

 I swear 

those boxes, when in storage,

 just keep reproducing! 

 

Just keeping it real.

I am making a pot of

 butternut squash soup, a dessert,

 and the rest of our dinner

 will be courtesy of Raley's.

  We did this last year

 when the kids were here and 

we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

  

Besides, 

with just the Captain and I,

 we will have enough left overs

 to last at least a week or two.

  Can't wait for all 

those turkey sandwiches!

I am starting 

to put up some Christmas decorations.

  Last year, 

Thanksgiving was later than usual 

so we didn't have much time afterwards

 to get Christmas going. 

 I love it so much and 

would like to keep it going

 for as long as I can. 

 Especially this year 

when we all need something

 a little extra.

It is hard not to be thankful 

when I can look out

my kitchen window and 

savor the beauty of a fall day and 

think back to only one year ago

 when I looked out this same window

 and saw this same tree.

None of this has changed 

and yet...

Only one year ago

 things were normal.  

Only one year ago

 life was what you made it. 

 Only one year ago 

we could live happily ever after. 

 One year ago 

seems like a 

lifetime away.

In the short span 

of one year 

so much has changed.  

We don't have the freedoms 

that we had then. 

 Times have changed to the extent

 that what seemed like promised time then

 is now time to be watchful of,

 to keep our eyes open and 

to think before we act

 about so many things 

that have usually been 

taken for granted.

It won't always be this way, 

it almost never is. 

 Things happen in our lives 

that affect us to the very core, 

but we are resilient and 

we can come back

 to a safe space.

Sometimes we learn great lessons

 during times like these and

 sometimes we don't, 

but we must always know 

that we can.

 

 This year, during the holidays,

 it might be harder than usual

 for some of us 

 to keep up

 our spirits.

We all have

 personal pictures 

of the way things ought to be, 

but that can't always

 be the reality. 

 Whatever your personal pictures are 

this holiday season, 

love your families,

 be thankful for all times spent together

 and know that our worlds

 are made to turn

 right side up again and 

so they will.

I would like to wish 

each and every one of 

my family and friends 

a joyful and thankful Thanksgiving. 

 Lots of good food to eat and 

lots of very sweet memories

 of those who can't be 

sitting at 

the table.

 Stay Smart

Stay Well

and

Wear the Mask.

Happy Thanksgiving

 to you all...

...Judy...

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Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda