HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2024

Now more than perhaps ever, we need to remember what in our lives are things for which to be thankful.

To all my readers.

There’s so much wrong with the world, (if there will even be one left soon,) and specifically what is going on with this country seems pretty bleak right now.  And the next four years will be probably the worst in recent history.

So it’s more important than ever to try hard to count our individual blessings and give thanks for them—to the powers-that-be, to the universe, and to the actual humans who are manifesting them for you.  And even to ourselves.

Think of any and every little thing that’s going right for yourself: family, job, loved ones, health, age, even looks! It doesn’t matter how small; it just has to give you happiness or satisfaction in some way.

A friend recently told me that he injured his knee earlier this year, and now that he had suffered such intense pain, he finally understood what I go through on practically a daily basis.  So he was grateful for his pain to be over. But he was surprised to learn that I also was grateful for my pain situation. My gratitude is for that it’s not worse than it is, and that I even have body parts to be able to feel all that pain! There’s always someone who has it worse, and we all should remember just how lucky we are in one category or another.

The same wish with perhaps a prettier picture.

I didn’t mean to get preachy here—I just wanted to share a “gratitude attitude,” (look—I just coined a fun phrase!,) with all of you, (me included,) who are dreading the coming year.

Personally, I’m always thankful for quite a lot, Mr. X being chief among them.  Of course, he’s often a pain in the butt, but he’s still keeping me laughing on a daily basis.  And, not to make anyone jealous, but he gives me foot massages almost every morning!

I’m also grateful for the Four Fs—friends, followers, food, and freedom, (for now.)

Congrats to Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson for winning this season of Dancing With The Stars. They deserved it!

And, as usual when my choice wins Dancing With The Stars, (the finale of which always happens two days before this holiday,) I’m thankful that Joey Graziadei and Jenna Johnson won this season. But I have to add more than an “honorable mention” to Stephen Nedoroscik’s freestyle dance—it was the best one ever, in all thirty-three seasons of that show! And it was choreographed by a teen-ager—his pro partner, Rylee Arnold! Major props to all four of them.

And I’m definitely thankful that we’ll be spending Thanksgiving with our great friends Fred Deni and Jim Crystal once again. (And they are probably grateful that they’ll be spending Christmas away from us this year!!!)

But what I’m most grateful for right now is something that just happened on Saturday night. Mr. X and I were at the Burbank Street Fair, (yes—he did go with me!—will wonders never cease?,) and as we were going along, I noticed a little girl about eight or nine years old, walking very fast with her hands to her mouth, like she was calling out to someone. There were bands and other music blasting throughout the fair, but I could’ve sworn that she was yelling, “Ma!” So I stopped walking, kept my eye on her, and told Mr. X what was happening. I knew right away that she was lost from her mother, and I wanted to go over to help her, but in these crazy times, if you’re caught speaking to a child who isn’t yours, you could be accused of being someone who was trying to steal that kid!

So I was looking around for a cop, when all of a sudden the little girl started running in one direction. While I was struggling with what to do, I turned around and noticed a woman who looked stricken, walking very fast, and calling out a girl’s name. So I ran right up to her and asked her if she was looking for her daughter, to which she answered yes. So I pointed her towards the area that the girl was running, and told her to run there fast. And then I told Mr. X that I had to go help the mother, so I ran right after her. I was never so relieved in my life, (except when we got Clarence back when he was stolen from us all those years ago,) as when I came upon them hugging very tightly with the little girl bawling her eyes out, obviously from relief.

This is just one corner of the Burbank Street Fair, so you can see that the pair might never have found each other. Photo by Karen Salkin.

I told the mother that I was so relieved that it worked out, and Mr. X and I walked away with my legs shaking and my heart pounding, but so full of happiness for that family. Mr. X pointed-out that if I hadn’t noticed the situation, and stopped right there to figure out what to do, and then noticed the mother, and told her what to do, something really bad could have happened to the child. The mother could have gone in the direction from which she came, thinking that’s where she lost sight of her daughter, and a stranger could have grabbed that little girl. I was the only person who noticed not only either the mother or daughter but both, so I’m grateful that I was there at the right place at the right time, with the right observational skills and kindness, to get them reunited. It could’ve been a bleak Thanksgiving for them, and instead, it’s the happiest of holidays for all four of us.

And so, from me to all of you, (for whom I’m always eternally grateful,) I wish everyone a beautiful and very Happy Thanksgiving! And I hope you all find something to be grateful for in your own lives, no matter how small.