November 28, 2006
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Thanksgivings
I’m thankful for the gloaming,
old hymns in minor keys,
Reuben sandwiches and Subaru
engines.For reoccurring forgiveness for
besetting sins;wood heat,
Bach’s Passacaglia and lavender.
For long-distance phone calls,
library cards,
BBC films
and another leaf in our expanding
table.I’m grateful for a grandson and a
stack of books,for garlic sizzling in olive oil,
for book-lined walls and long car
drives.French Onion soup,
Sunday dinners,
George Herbert’s poetry,
Two Buck Chuck Cabernet Sauvignon,
toddler laughter and uninterrupted
sleep.Truth, beauty and goodness,
goodness and mercy,
mercy and grace.
I’m grateful for Google,
down comforters and
freedom from
debt.I praise God for
reconciliation,Vaughn Williams and psalms from the
Vulgate;For manly hugs and kisses,
Hand-knit socks,
alliteration and Carl
Larsson.Declared
righteousness,promises kept and
Exodus.
Extended family, the piano,
lingering meals,Scented candles, speech, and
memories.Weddings, daughters-in-law,
the researching, thinking and
writing of David McCullough,extra sharp cheddar cheese, and
Amazon.com boxes.Pesto, bubble wrap, smiles that
light up the whole face,Asparagus, chai, and good drinking
water.Daughters who care for their elderly
mothers,Sons-in-laws who do the
same;I’m thankful for the death of death,
for mingled tears,For temporary sighs and sorrow and
the hope of the future.Cobb salad, Athanasius, whole wheat
toast.Independent sons, reading evenings,
growing families.I give thanks for 100% cotton,
loving rebukes,Laughter in the morning and southern
windows.For nostrils, fingernails and belly
buttons,For DSL, clematis, and airplane
travel,Different cultures and customs, and
the fun exploration of such,Enduring
friendships.I’m thankful for home.
“Oh give thanks
unto the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures
forever.”
Comments (9)
I’m rushing through your site trying to find the post you wrote about categorizing reading, not stopping to read (I’ve GOT to get off and work on the last major project. NOW.), when I see “I’m thankful for …old hymns in minor keys, Reuben sandwiches.”
Dear Carol, we ARE sisters, or twins, separated not by birth, but by the huge expanse of continental earth called the U.S.! I LOVE hymns in minor keys. My absolute favorite. Which is why I like the Advent hymns “What Child is This” and “Lo, How a Rose.” And I love Reubens with the proper amount of sauerkraut and good, hearty brown mustard.
Oh, how I ache sometimes to meet you in real life! I will force myself to wait to read the rest of your thanksgivings. I need to concentrate on some deadline work and I fear that I will find too many other evidences of our kindred spirits that will derail my thoughts right now. But I WILL be back to read! I believe we might be like Lucy Maud’s Anne and Diana!
Janie
Anne and Diana are quite the duo! I have a Diana too. She’s my bosom friend. Anyway – I miss you too, Aunt Carol! When can we have a visit again??? I would say that you could be Aunt Josephine, but she’s definately more like my grandmother. You would be more like a Miss Stacey to me. You are inspiring and joyful. Hah, I feel like that came straight from a fortune cookie fortune, but really – you are inspiring and joyful.
Janie, I’m optimistic that we’ll get to meet sometime. I can imagine hugging you and simultaneously peeking over your shoulder to look at your bookcases, haha! So many of my current tastes in literature and music are influenced by you. I’m eager to get out some of the Christmas CDs I purchased last year after reading your blog – remember Jesus Christ, The Apple Tree?
Well, Miss Anne, you make me smile. I do see some similarities between Honey and Aunt Josephine. Don’t you think they both have tender hearts under the more austere exterior? I had a lovely hour with Honey – she “commanded” a piano performance. I played for her (spirituals and old gospel songs) and then we sat and talked and she shared tender thoughts about being widowed.
I feel quite complimented to be compared to Miss Stacey. Thank you!
Now, Carol, that is quite the collection of things you’re thankful for! I’m not sure I could have thought of them myself, but I recognize a lot that I’m thankful for, too.
Janie, I love What Child is This and “Lo a Rose Ere Blooming”, too! (whoops, maybe I got the title wrong on that since it doesn’t match yours.
Lovely presentation of your thankfulness!
Dana in GA
This morning I have allowed myself to read and think about your thankful list. How thankful <i<I am to have such an articulate friend. What a wonderful list.
Your list gives me an idea. When I have time in a few weeks, I would like to start a thankful list at Seasonal Soundings in the sidebar. This might be a good thing for many of us to do–to keep it in front of us–in this current day of grumbles, complaints, hardships. As classical educators or simply as those of us who embrace those classical virtues of the good, the true, and the beautiful, maybe we should proclaim those things and sweeten the day or the lives of ourselves and others. As important as my blog list of books read is to me, so much so should be my thankful list. You have given me another wonderful idea, Carol!
I just learned of my final exam project yesterday. It is due Tuesday—a 15 minute defense for teaching the liberal arts. I need about a month to do anything close to justice to this topic but only have a week. I will submerge again for awhile.
Janie
Sighs and contentment
Lovely list. Two buck Chuck made me laugh. I had never heard of this until a couple of years ago (the nearest Trader Joe’s is a couple hours away). Terry has tried several Two buck Chuck’s and the price makes them some of his favorites!
I am thankful for you, my faithful blog-sistah friend.
Absolutely wonderful list!