Thankful Days
Nov272008
It’s Thanksgiving and I’m home with this stupid cough because I am not infecting my entire family for the holidays. Yes, I have some resentments from my childhood, but nothing like that.
So I’m sitting here in the relative quiet of my home (Milton is taking exception to a deer in the driveway) thinking about how much I’m grateful for.
I’m grateful for Milton, loud as he is, and Veronica, neurotic as she is, and Wolfie, who has somehow become the stable head of the pack, which gives you an idea of the personality disorders there. We get up in the morning and I say, “Downstairs?” and they all run hell bent for leather for the stairs to outside, and I have my own Sprint commercial. Stampede! Make me smile every morning.
Then there are the Goddessess, Lani and Krissie, who are a keystroke away just about any time I need anything, and who come to visit and fill this house with music and laughter and shrieks of outrage, joy, and, yes, lust because sometimes we watch movies (Krissie gets animated about anime).
And I am grateful for my family, including my eighty-something parents, both of whom are still sharp as tacks (I told my mother she was my canary in the mineshaft) and my brother who rolls his eyes at me but is always there if I need him, and my sister-in-law whose smile can light up the whole street and whose laugh makes you laugh, too. And my niece who’s the spitting image of her mother so we get that laugh in stereo, and my nephew who got the whole family’s number when he was about two and just laughs at us all and shakes his head. My favorite Christmas memory of them? The year my mother saw one of my tattoos and we did five minutes on that while my nephew laughed so hard he choked and my niece wrote my daughter later and said, “BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!” These people are comic gold.
And then there’s my branch of the family and this is where I’ll get gooey because my kid has grown up to be such an amazing woman, and she found such a good man to share her life with, and now there’s this beautiful, smart, strong, fabulous little girl . . . I must go on to another paragraph or the screen will get soggy.
So I am grateful for many things, but right here, in this corner of cyberspace, I’m grateful for all of you, who call me (and each other) on it when I screw up, and argue with me (and each other) when you disagree, and expand on my knowledge and give me fortunes for my book and generally make this a cyber-family without the ugly Christmas sweaters and cranberry mold. We may not be Norman Rockwell here but we still talk turkey.
Happy Thanksgiving, Argh People. You’re the best.
Now pass the gravy.
Filed in Deep Thoughts
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27 Comments to 'Thankful Days'
On November 27, 2008 at 12:18 pm Diane (TT) said...
I’m thankful that my sister lets me come visit her and did a lot of prep work, so I can sit at her table and visit here after we have the turkey in.
Her kids are older (my nephew is taller than both of us and can’t stop mentioning it), so that’s a VERY adorable photo.
Best wishes for your solitary, but not lonely Thanksgiving day! And get well soon.
On November 27, 2008 at 12:37 pm Lani said...
I’m grateful for you, too, babe. You shine bright in my life, which is full of a lot of bright things, so that says a lot about you. Happy Thanksgiving!
On November 27, 2008 at 1:11 pm Melissa Blue said...
Happy Thanksgiving! God, your grandaughter is so cute.
I’m grateful for my parents. They are a call away. They listen to me rant and rave and still love me beyond measure. I’m thankful my kids understand Mommie is a drama queen. They keep me grounded. They make me laugh and not take things so seriously. They are the loves of my life. I’m also thankful for all the people I’ve surrounded myself with. I’ve got great friends.
And, all the argh people. *sounds like bog people, doesn’t it?* I feel smart when I’m around ya’ll. Again, Happy Thanksgiving.
On November 27, 2008 at 2:41 pm Brooke said...
Oh! So sweet. Right back atcha, sister.
On November 27, 2008 at 4:13 pm inkgrrl said...
Happy Thanksgiving gorgeous! Much love and pumpkin-pie-real-whipped-cream kisses!
On November 27, 2008 at 5:25 pm robena grant said...
Happy, happy Thanksgiving. I think I posted that yesterday but am in a hurry so won’t go back and check. Sorry you’re still not well but think of the bright side, you won’t get fat from all of the butter and gravy. You’ll have a jump start on the rest of us who’ll be bemoaning our weight gain by Christmas.
Thanks for the chuckle about the dog stampede. Haven’t started to eat on the West Coast yet. Kids are about to arrive. I’ve worked my butt off but that’s good, now there’s room for more pie.
Happy turkey day everyone!
p.s. I’m especially thankful to you, Jenny, for all you give back to we struggling writers, for having a blog that is so interesting I have to check every day even if I know you won’t post again for another week.
On November 27, 2008 at 5:32 pm Patrice said...
Jenny, what a fabulous blog entry and wonderful picture!
Thank you for being you.
On November 27, 2008 at 5:46 pm S said...
And a very happy Thanksgiving to you too! I’m grateful for your sparkling books and this blog.
On November 27, 2008 at 6:38 pm Jill said...
The day is almost over . Too late to wish everyone Happy Thanksgiving so I will just say Happy Leftovers.
Thank you, Jenny ,for that blog post. I am very greatful that Jenny Crusie is a part of my life.
On November 27, 2008 at 7:33 pm Fan from Newcastle, Australia said...
Jenny, I love reading your blog and everyday that I do is brightened.
Happy Thanksgiving (this is not a holiday in Australia) and keep on letting us join your journeys.
On November 27, 2008 at 9:20 pm Chrissy Deffendall said...
Happy Thanksgiving, Argh! denizens.
On November 27, 2008 at 9:22 pm McB said...
Happy Thanksgiving, Jenny. I’m so sorry you missed spending it with your family.
I’m thankful that I still have my mom, who is just everything a mom is supposed to be, and my best friend too.
I’m thankful for the rest of my family. I alternate between feeling blessed to have people who are Always There and feeling the desire to stick an ice pick through my eye because they are Always There. My version of ying and yang. But mostly I am thankful.
I’m thankful for the many wonderful people who are part of my life and seem to enjoy having me be part of theirs as well.
I’m thankful that once upon a time both Jenny and Bob decided to attend a writer’s conference in Maui. My life would be poorer in ways I doubt either of them could have imagined.
On November 27, 2008 at 9:50 pm Katy Cooper said...
I’m going to say “Happy Pie!” to everyone, because right now, I’m thinking pie is the best thing ever.
On November 27, 2008 at 10:41 pm Stephanie said...
What an adorable pumpkin!!
Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you feel better. If it would help with the recovery I’d be glad to send my MIL. Really. It would be okay with us;)
On November 28, 2008 at 12:43 am Amy said...
Ah! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
On November 28, 2008 at 1:45 am sharon w. said...
Thank you for sharing part of your Thanksgiving day, and like the others have said, thank you for being you. And you do have the cutest, and sweet, little pumpkin.
Take the time to get rid of your sick cuties. Give a group hug to your herd.
On November 28, 2008 at 11:05 am JulieB said...
Thank you all the Argh Ink commenters! I love your posts.
Thank you Jenny, for books, the blog and all the teaching you do.
On November 28, 2008 at 12:08 pm MJ said...
Of the many blessings the Internet brings–the ability to answer almost any trivia question, the opportunity to work and research from home, the power to stay in quick contact with my far-flung siblings–the connections I make through Argh and the Cherry Forums are right up at the top of my “thanks for that!” list.
Although yesterday, the best Internet blessing was the ability to look up “make a turky in a Nesco roaster” when the oven stopped working.
On November 28, 2008 at 1:00 pm RandomRanter said...
Among other things, I am thankful for Jenny and the Arghers and Cherries.
On November 28, 2008 at 2:48 pm Susan D said...
You just work on getting super healthy in time for Christmas, because there’s NOTHING like spending Christmas morning with a grandchild (except with TWO grandchildren).
On November 28, 2008 at 11:44 pm Barbara said...
I can relate to being ill at a holiday.
About ten years ago I had pneumonia at Christmas and I, too, didn’t want to share my germs with my loved ones. I strung Christmas lights on the bed canopy and put the small Christmas tree on the bookshelf and ate a tv turkey dinner for Christmas dinner.
At the time I thought it was kind of pathetic but it was also an attempt to cheer myself up which was a good thing and probably helped my recovery. My grown daughter refused to let me go without my present so we sat on the front porch and shivered while we exchanged them then I sent her home.
On November 28, 2008 at 11:54 pm Gayle, Black Cherry Kisser said...
That can NOT be Miss Calliope, can it? Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago she was wee?
On November 29, 2008 at 2:02 pm Kira said...
Thank you, Jenny, for letting us be a part of your life.
Wishing you the best of health, and to your entire extended family, as well
On November 29, 2008 at 8:23 pm Marta said...
We went to my BIL’s for Thanksgiving this year, and it was wonderful. You didn’t miss T-day, Jenny, because several items from your blog were topics of conversation, so you were at the table with us.
My SIL’s oven shorted out Thanksgiving Eve, so almost everything got cooked out on the grill, including my pecan tart. In Jenny’s honor (and because my SIL asked me to) I taught my nephew how to make gravy while his fiancee took mental notes and my other SIL took pictures. As usual for this family, everyone wound up in the kitchen despite the lovely hors d’oeuvres laid out in the living room. Wine and good fun was had by all.
The gravy was a work of art, with such a beautiful brown glossy color, I’d have pegged it for cheating cornstarch thickening if I hadn’t thrown the flour in the pan myself. Perfect flavor, too, and since the fiancee was responsible for seasoning the turkey, she shared Home Run gravy credit with the nephew. Jenny, they did you proud!
We ate until we were sick, and then had dessert. I am very thankful for just about everything, especially that my pecan tart did not burn, and my stoneware pan didn’t explode being used on the grill.
On November 30, 2008 at 4:42 pm DownUnderGal said...
Coming in a little late but Happy Thanksgiving to you all.
I’m thankful for this blog.
I’m thankful that all my family is alive and well and whilst at times I would like to share McB’s ice pick, they are part of the fabric of me and they complete me.
I’m thankful for my wonderful friends.
I’m thankful that I have three squares a day and a roof over my head.
I’m thankful that I’m wired in such a way I can channel the voices in my head for good not evil.
I’m thanful for great books.
Hope you are better soon, Jenny.
On November 30, 2008 at 9:22 pm cacbmd said...
What a wonderful picture. Made me smile.
I haven’t been a fan of holidays these last couple of years. Avoided thanksgiving as I will avoid christmas as well. Hard times, but that picture of that gorgeous baby made me smile. Thank you.
On December 1, 2008 at 12:34 am Micki said...
Thank you, Jenny, for all the joy you’ve brought to my bookshelf and computer screen, and all the joy to come!
Hope that cough is gone before Christmas . . . because if it’s not, you may get a spate of home remedies and disgusting (yet strangely effective) foreign ones. LOL! Get well soon, and thanks for sharing!
What an adorable grandchild! I’m happy to see the kind of thing I can look forward to (in seven to 25 years, I hope!)