Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year.  It was always my Mom's favorite holiday.  She and my Grandmother loved nothing more than entertaining and doing for people and Thanksgiving was always such a  wonderful time for them, which made it a wonderful time for all of us.  Every year, we were surrounded by friends and family.  One year, Mom had the idea to have all the Forneses, or as many as were available, to Grandmother's house for Thanksgiving.  How many people do that with their in-laws these days  LOL  But it was always such a great time and became a yearly tradition almost up until Mom passed away.  But every year was filled with joy and friendship and good food.

Through the years, so many different people came to our feast.  Everyone was family in one way or another. At least, that's the way everyone was made to feel and that's as it should be.  So many people that at one time or another sat around our table have gone on to be with the Lord:  Jim Reich, Doris Martino, Aunt Betty Jean, Aunt Fay,  Grandma Fornes,  Mom,  Grandmother.   There may be others I'm forgetting, but the point being that I'm blessed to have shared this time with them all.

Ah, well.  I see so many people posting things online that they are thankful for.  Yes, some are silly and funny but some are very heartfelt.  I think it's wonderful that people are doing it and I hope everyone remembers that this kind of feeling need not be for one day.  It can be whenever you want it to be.  I know, ironic that I should be saying this as up and down as I've been for the last few months.  But I AM thankful for so many things.

I'm thankful that in many ways my life is very good.  That i have a husband who doesn't call me crazy but says i make life interesting (very interesting at times lol)  That i have a job (not always thankful for the job but for the fact i have one).  That I'm still here on Earth because I have angels watching over me.  I'm  Thankful that there are many people in my life that can look past my surface and see into my soul.  I'm thankful for the people who don't look past my surface because they will help to build my strength and character.  Thankful for an amazing group of friends that I have.  There are so many that are out there that I don't see or talk to on a regular basis, but when I do it's like time hasn't really passed.  That's an amazing feeling because I know now that not everyone has that kind of connection with people.  And I am thankful for those in my life that have gone on before me, left me their legacy and taught me what I know.  Because of them, I can see who i want to be when I grow up!

This Thanksgiving, just take everything in...the sights, the smells, the food, the friends.  As I said once before, a good meal is not determined by what's on your table, but by who's sitting at it.  We never know what life holds for us.  The person sitting next to you may not be around, come this time next year.  But be thankful they're there now.  There will never be another Thanksgiving 2012 so make the most of it.