Be Thankful, Be Happy

Happy Thanksgiving. I'm so thankful for my children and husband. Add to that my extended family. I'm thankful for my good friends all over the country who make my life even more bountiful. Even though the economy has tanked and things are bad all over, I'm feeling very blessed.
Because I grew up as a child of depression era parents, I've had depression living engraved on my brain, so I know we will be ok. We will pull together and combine resources and get through as a family intact. We just have to keep our eyes on the prize. For the generation of my children this is particularly hard as they have had mostly affluent times. The spirit of working together will get us through.
My heart goes to my niece and her husband this week, celebrating the day without their beloved daughter who died this summer at the hands of a hit-and-run killer. We will remember sweet Riley and celebrate her life.
Thanks to my sister who takes on the task of having us all there-and there are a lot of us to feed. My honeybaked ham is ready to go along with my pies, so we will head out to KY this evening.
Be thankful, be happy, and be full of good eats.
That's the way it is, see y'all.

Holidays, gotta love 'em.

Thanksgiving week! Have we forgotten about this holiday with all the Christmas commercial promotion going on? This year, of all years, we should be remembering this day and be thankful and grateful for what we still have. What happened to Pilgrims and Native Americans who supposedly started this day--until Lincoln made it official. I loved the Thanksgiving Day programs at school with all the costumes and turkey songs. Remember Stone Soup? Recreating the Mayflower on the gym floor, then crowding into it to show what it was like crossing the ocean? What's with forgetting all that? Maybe I'm out of the loop, but last week one of my favorite radio stations started playing all Christmas music--really now, that's way too soon.
This year neither child will be coming home so husband and I are making our way to the ancestral homes in KY--well, what used to be the ancestral home, though Mother no longer lives there. But it's a small town and you get my drift. I, the oldest of four, am the only one not living in the town, so we will congregate at the other sister's home in a near by hamlet. She is by far the best sister, having taken on most of the responsibility for keeping things going. Everyone will be there except for my children who would have had to travel far and wide to get here. Hopefully, they will be here in Memphis for Christmas. I digress.
We do plan to have the traditional goodies. We are saddened by the death of our beloved great-niece who was killed by a hit-and-run killer this summer. It will be hard for all of us, this being our first get together since her death. But we will rejoice at the good health of the other great niece who is a one year (so far) survivor of a liver transplant. And, we look forward to another birth in May. It's a very good thing to have little ones again though we are sad not to have the first one with us. She has a beautiful monument in Louisville and I'm hoping to go see it soon.
So, a few days in KY, then I plan to spend a few days in Nashville with my buddies. I have really good friends there and am beyond thankful to still have a condo there for visiting and playing with friends.
Knitting--finished a scarf for son's girlfriends using the yarn she gave me last Christmas--Lorna's Laces Boucle in Charcoal. It made a scrumptious scarf. She, with her dark hair and big eyes will look great in it. Also finished gift for daughter who might read this so no more said. More to come as I need to knit a scarf or socks or something for daughter's boyfriend.
Also am knitting a Thanksgiving shawl for myself and a shawl/scarf called the Swirl Shawl along with more socks and a mitered square bag--all of which are put off until the Christmas knitting is done.
Reading--have finished all the books I needed to read for the workshop I gave at church yesterday. It went well, but still have one more session to go. That reading took a while so I'm still on Edgar Sawtelle and just started Knitting for Good! by Betsy Greer.
I'll be taking a tote bag of knitting and another of reading to Nashville where I seem to get lots done--not so many distractions and more time to concentrate on hobbies, for goodness sake.
Christmas shopping--well I'll need to get started on that soon. Ha.
Holidays, good love 'em, so I'm going to love Thanksgiving this week and will think about the other---never forgetting the real reason for it--next week.
That's the way it is. See y'all.

The more things change....

It's been a long two weeks. We were both sad and comforted to see Aunt Sue pass away last week. She had been in such pain and so uncomfortable. The doctors could not give her any more help for her many problems, so at age 82, it was decided to make her comfortable and ease her into death. She died so peacefully. We had lots of family here with Dennis and I representing the Stokes family. The service was sweet and meaningful to those present. Lunch here for the whole gang was fun and we enjoyed seeing cousins we rarely see.
Sunday we dedicated twins at church--my job is to intro the families and present the little bibles. It was good to see how the circle of life goes around and around...
In addition to that there have been lots of other vicissitudes of life happening, but they are not interesting.
I did participate in the silent auction at church to the tune of 10 knitted items. I had knitted a funky animal print shawl out of chenille from Michaels with a black fur border that had quite a bidding war going on. All items sold well. I noticed a fifth grader walking away with my crayon colored socks and she seemed thrilled to have them.
Now I'm preparing a training session to help people who want to know how to be a support system to families and individuals who are experiencing pain and loss. It's through church and involves beginning a CareNet program for our members and community. I'm using my Stephen Ministry training as resource material.
But other than that I'm preparing for the holidays--reserved my Honey Baked Ham--whoohoo. We will travel to KY to be with our extended family but not our children. They will be coming to Memphis for Christmas, at least I hope we can swing it. David is between jobs and not too anxious to travel but we are trying to work out decently priced tickets for LA to Memphis. I just want all my chicks here!
I've finished reading Rasputin's Daughter by Robert Alexander and am on to finishing The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. I need to go to Nashville and hide out in our condo and read for days until I've caught up with the huge stack of "to be read" on several tables all over the house. But knitting Christmas gifts is taking first place for now. More on that later.
And, hallelujah, Obama is moving along the transition highway and doing a good job!
I don't know about you but I'm waiting and praying that 2009 is way better than 2008.
That's the way it is...the circle of life....right here in Memphis. See y'all.

This has been a very exciting week for us Democrats, and hopefully for everyone in the country. It was an emotional Tuesday night watching the election returns and then the celebration in Grant Park in Chicago. The Obamas and Bidens looked great up there on the dais and the acceptance speech was both grave, given the times, and inspirational. I've read the text a couple of times so I can remember it. Just think four years of someone who can deliver a great speech, is brilliant, reflective, and seeks the advice of those who know more than him. Not a hunch decision maker. Hallelujah.
It's amazing how the anti-Obamaites have changed their tune and want to get on the band wagon. But I say, come on and join us. I'm really hoping for a new way in this new day.
The days leading up to the inauguration are going to be interesting. I'm interested in the personal side of things--the move to Washington for the families, the changing of the climate in DC to more Democratic friendly terms, etc. I'm tired of the politics and ready for some of the fluff.
With a son and a brother job seeking, I'm hoping for a turn-around soon, but fear it's not coming soon enough. So, pray fat prayers for people to be able to find work, get back on their feet and not suffer a depression era lifestyle.
Oh, and the Sarah Palin thing--people usually show us who they are. We just have to learn to believe what we see--look beyond what is said. And, I taught seventh grade geography--haven't seen a seventh-grader yet who doesn't know the countries of North America and that Africa is a continent. She showed us during the campaign that she is not informed about the basics--now we know for sure. Sarah, go back to school, learn lots of things including good speech patterns, then think about some other job in politics. Just don't wander too far from Alaska.
So, Whoohoo! It's been a great week, exciting and thrilling. That's the way it is, see y'all.

Today, Election Day, is much less exciting here in TN than it was where we lived in 2004--New Hampshire. Indeed, I've already gotten two calls from NH (where for some reason we are still listed) asking us to go vote. Here in Memphis, there is a great deal of excitement but it is subdued compared with New Hampshire.
Tonight the sense of excitement may change as the results come in and it becomes clear whether or not Obama wins. Given our large African-American community, this could be one of the best, or worst, nights in a long time, certainly since the assassination of MLK, Jr. here 40 years ago. I'm hoping for a huge celebration at the Civil Rights Museum, although I've not heard anything about it. A spontaneous celebration is just what we need here. Memphis is losing its soul due to poor leadership (that's another story for a later time) and something like an Obama win will go a long way here. I just think he will be a phenomenal boost here and for the whole country. Expectations are very high, so he needs to be given time to accomplish his goals and we need to be willing to do our part to get this train wreck of a country back on the track. Go vote, today, and for my part, please vote for Obama.
I've finished The Bible Salesman by Clyde Edgerton and am into The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. Oprah is right, it's a well written story. I'm not very far into it but am enjoying it. The mother of Edgar has just suffered the birth of a dead infant, and is recuperating. Edgar has not been born yet, although there is lots of foreshadowing going on. I'll also have to get started on both November book club choices. One, Abide With Me, I've already read and will review. The other, Rasputin's Daughter, I'll start next week. I don't like to read them too far ahead of time because I forget too much.
Knitting--well, yesterday I delivered twelve items to the coordinator of the silent auction at church. Included were six felted bags, two pairs of socks, two Christmas stockings, and two shawls. Right now I'm working on a pair of socks, the Swirl Shawl, and a bag. I need to work on more Christmas presents and will get started on those asap. I've already finished one present and two stockings.
It's so hard to decide what to do--knit or read. If anyone comes up with an easy way to do both, I'm all over it. Just let me know.
So, today---GO VOTE. That's the way it is. See y'all.

Musings from Memphis

Today has been hard. We, my husband and I, visited his 82 yo aunt who is in the hospital. She has congestive heart failure and is really sick. We had to call her daughters to come home from their home on each coast and see her. She will love seeing them and will hopefully rally. Being there brings up all kinds of feelings about end of life issues. It's so important to work those out ahead of time so as not to have a time that needs to remain calm and comfortable become fraught with anxiety. Plan ahead people. We are all going to die so plan how you want to do it--if given the opportunity---before the decision is given to others. Have a living will and other directives in place. Be willing to use the resources available in hospitals, like palliative care. They know the ropes and can make issues that arise become easier to manage.