Rosemary & Marble

This year has been hard. It’s been harder for many others. Often it’s been hard to find the gratitude. But I have so much to be thankful for.

We celebrate far apart this year. But in so many ways we celebrate together. I was reflecting today on how today there was no busy airports and packed roadways. For the first time since maybe the very first Thanksgivings, we are all simply sitting down to a meal today. Some of us are doing so on Zoom from an apartment in Brooklyn. Some of us are having turkey sandwiches with just our housemates. And some of us are still roasting a turkey with our immediate family. But without the hustle and bustle of usual holiday travel, we are all gathering around a table of sorts and figuring out what to be grateful about.

I’m grateful for my home. It’s provided me and my family with space to be together and apart this last year. I’m grateful for our oak-filled spacious yard that has allowed some socially-distanced neighbor visits. I’m grateful for our church that has worked so hard to keep our church family connected when congregating isn’t possible. I’m grateful for employment that can be done in remote settings. I’m grateful for teachers that continue to give even though their own families are dealing with the same stresses we all are. I’m grateful for a community that despite our many differences always comes together to support each other.

I have so much to be grateful for. Period. Tomorrow will bring more worries and concerns. But I’m putting this out there so I can look back and remember the gratitude.