What I'm Thankful For.

Thanksgiving!  The day where families get together and celebrate all the blessings received in the past year.

(Not to be confused with Festivus, where you explain in great detail how each of your family members and dinner guests have disappointed you.)

No, this is Turkeyday.   A day of tons of food, unabashed gluttony, football and most likely a nap.

I usually try to be thankful for the little things each day.  Comfortable shoes, green lights, friendly smiles and the Three Stooges.  The simple pleasures.  But really what's a little thing is a matter of perspective.

This year, I'm thankful for my family.  Each year we seem to be smaller and more geographically scattered but we're hanging in there.  Despite disagreements and challenges, we continue to support each other through a foundation of love. My mother, my sister, my nephew, all of my family are truly a wonder.

I'm thankful for my friends, new and old.  I don't make friends as easily or as often as I did in my youth but each of them, far too many to list, have a special place in my heart.  I hope in reading this you realize how important you all are to me.  Many of you have given me a lift in times when I needed it, offered words of encouragement and helped me maintain my balance.

I'm thankful that yesterday there were more volunteers at my local food bank than necessary and I wasn't needed.  I like to be needed but this is one instance where I wish a business no influx of new customers. If you have the time and resources, I encourage you to seek out your local food bank.  It's an important cause filling a desperate need.

I'm thankful for a roof over my head and food at my table. I'm thankful I'm healthy.  I'm thankful I'm someplace warm.  I'm thankful I'm one of the fortunate ones to have a job in this economy.  There are far too many in this world without these blessings and they are in my thoughts and prayers. Despite a long year, I really have so many blessings and an impossible task of enumerating them all appropriately.

Mostly I'm just thankful that I'm fortunate enough  to be thankful.  I'm alive and tomorrow the sun will rise; no matter what happens I'll be thankful for that, too.

It's Your Blog, Too!

I enjoy blogging and speaking my mind but according to some guidebooks I've read, a blog should have a central theme.  The blogger should focus on his or her interests but not ALL of their interests.  Seeing how I am only reaching out to a little more than a dozen readers, I'm thinking my blog may be too scattered.

I have many interests and they're very hard to compartmentalize.  I enjoy writing, sketching, sports, fishing, cooking, scifi, technology and discussing politics.  The question I'm posing to you, my loyal 15 readers lol is what (if anything) do you enjoy reading about?  If I had to limit my blog to one particular topic, what would be your preference?  What would keep you coming back?  This is your chance to chime in, it's your blog as well so weigh in!

We look but do not see.

The holidays are fast approaching.  Shopping last week just before Halloween I saw the signs of Christmas decorations even before Thanksgiving.  I know retailers are hurting but honestly, that's a little early for me.

For some the holidays are a magical time; it's gathering around the hearth singing carols, spending time with family and the smell of gingerbread in the air.  For some it's at best just another time of year.  At worst it's a struggle to survive the elements and fearful of their safety.

I had every intention of a lighter blog tonight, until I got back from my local food bank that also helps with a homeless mission.  I try to spend a few hours when I can helping to fill bags, unload trucks, whatever use they can find for me but sometimes the images are a little hard to shake. 

They're the invisible citizens.  The ones we may view in passing and try to forget.  Afraid of the stark reality that "there but for the grace..."

In the wealthiest nation on the planet, we have children going hungry and veterans sleeping under bridges.  Alone, cold, forgotten and wondering whatever it is they may have done to deserve such a fate.

Here's some facts on the homeless.  Over 3.5 million will face homelessness at least temporarily in a given year. 40% of those will be families with children and 23% of the homeless are veterans. 1.37 million homeless will be under the age of 18.  When I was 18 my biggest source of anxiety was whether stonewash jeans were going out of style.  No child should ever have to worry about having a roof over their heads or food to eat.

I'm not saying we should all run out and give away our possessions.  Many of us are struggling to make ends meet ourselves, some only a paycheck away from being a statistic.  What I am saying is we can do more and it's not always about money.  If you are in a position to help, please do so in whatever manner you can.  Food banks need canned goods and the Salvation Army can use old clothes and toys.  Want to know a surprise? The biggest demand at most homeless shelters are for new socks and tupperware.

The common thread among all of the charitable organizations is need of your time and attention. We can't wish away the problems and we can't ignore the voices crying in silence. Just be involved and each day be thankful for at least one blessing in your life.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Your Right. Your Voice. Vote.

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting."
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Tomorrow is election day in the United States and if you're like me, it hasn't come soon enough.  In September I wrote a piece (http://grimagination.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-sing-body-politic.html) speaking of the partisanship divide in this election cycle.  The Jon Stewart 'rally to restore sanity' aside, the word still hasn't gotten out that we're tired of the rhetoric and the ads from both sides of the aisle have been caustic to say the least.  I'm still waiting for the ad beginning "Is Candidate XX a cannibal? He's never publically stated he isn't.  What is he hiding? Vote for Candidate BB.  He doesn't eat people. And that's on the record."

Ok maybe that's a little farfetched but you get my point.

I'm not asking you to vote in any direction, whether you vote Republican, Democrat or Independent, your views are your own as is your right to a private ballot.  All I ask is that you do vote.  Vote with your conscience and your mind and be informed.  Use this evening to explore the candidates' positions and propositions/initiatives within your state.  This fundamental process is the most precious of all rights and the bedrock of the Republic.  Our nation was founded upon and paid bitterly for your right to vote; it's our voices that dictate the direction of the nation.  It baffles me that most are willing to wait in line for hamburgers and dry cleaning, only to proclaim they can't make the time to cast a ballot.

If you've not registered, please look at your districts as there are some that allow same day registrations.  If you're confused at the booth by electronic voting machines, ask questions of the polling attendants.  While they cannot tell you for whom or what to vote for, they can assist in the process.

I will leave with a final thought; it doesn't matter if your candidate or issue fails.  What matters is that democracy endures and that can only be achieved with a vote.  It's the one day that 'We The People" play an active role in the governance of our nation. It's your right and your voice.  Please use it.

Thank you for taking the time to read.