It’s not a tradition at this traditional time of year. But it seems that life reflection will sneak up on you all the same. You’ll be going about the routine of your days and then
In the middle of an icy downpour while driving on the Interstate, you’ll be thankful for the brakes that are working in your car.
When you stop on the ramp where the highway splits and the trucks whizzing by are making your car shake, you’re thankful for the passenger in your car who calmly pulls out the map and tells you you took the right turn and it’s safe to go.
When you run for the building at your destination, you suddenly realize how thankful you are that you have warm boots to be able to move through the sleet and snow.
Going back towards your city, when the blizzard strikes, it strikes you how wonderful it is that the Semi-Truck Drivers will piggyback in a snow storm and you’re thankful that by following them, you’ll be able to tell where the road is.
Once you reach a point where you will have to stop driving and continue working outside, when the driving snow and ice is soaking your clothes through and making your pants freeze to your legs, you’ll be thankful and almost faint with relief when your partner hands you the wool hat you threw on the dashboard. Because he noticed it was now warm and dry from the heater, it fits your head but feels like a healing envelope for your whole body, as you tie your hood over it.
At that moment, when you are staring up in the dark stormy sky at a 60 ft antenna you’re trying to control, you surrender to thanksgiving because you remember the parent at the school meeting you just attended, who sorrowfully asked the School Board President why he didn’t do something about the weapon threats last summer, when this day, 7 children are stabbed in a local High School.
You surrender to the thought, that on this day, today, you will respect the people and things that you normally take for granted and you promise to do the same as day follows day, so that in the coming year, thanks giving will be the only thing you’ve taken for granted.
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the little hat that could (the version above made from soft handspun wool so it drapes more like a beret)
Thank you, everyone, for making ChicKnits such a pleasure and delight for me this past year!!!
Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!
I am also thankful for you and your wonderful patterns!
Happy Thanksgiving, Bonne Marie.
Thanks so much for posting this. I was on my way to work when I decided to check your blof, feeling a little sorry for myself and needing a reality check. Thanks for your wisdom and grace.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
That was great – thanks so much!!!
It’s comforting to read a blog such as yours and feel good knowing there are still people out there with a heart. Bonne Marie you are the best!!! Thank you! And also thank you to for your undying humor. Everyday you’re a breath of fresh air.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Bonne Marie. Your story reminds me of the importance of little things we do for each other. Sometimes, I think it’s pretty useless and stupid and a waste of time for me to make things for family members like hats and mittens, etc. They certainly seem to fall out of jacket pockets and end up on kitchen counters and in the back seats of the car, but no one gushes over something like that when they get it (at least my folks don’t). But when you need ’em, you need ’em. I once saw my son waiting for the bus one frigid day — it was probably about zero outside — and because he couldn’t find a hat in his pocket (because all kids seem to run out at the last minute for the bus and then the bus is late so they stand out there in the snow and wind for a good 15 minutes — so this is not unusual — I was just glad he’d grabbed his coat when he ran out the door), he’d taken his wool scarf out from underneath his coat and had tied it around his head like a turban to stay warm and then had tucked the end of it down the collar of his coat. I’m making sure everyone I know has a good warm hat and gloves this year and that there’s a bag of old ones in every vehicle that leaves our house. When you need ’em , you need ’em. Happy Turkey Day. Let’s hope everyone gets home safe.
Thankful for YOU and the Lo-Tech Sweat. Yep.
xo