Thanks

A while back Pilgrim/Heretic offered an Assigned letter which inspired this post/meme. Since in the US this is the day people give thanks, stuff themselves, fail to get caught up on the thesis, and pity anyone who is not at a big family chow down.

In Canada, it's earlier, and not much celebrated, at least not in my mother's generation. Third Thursday in November for me meant watching the parade on TV, and the day mom never cooked, (leftovers or pb&j sandwiches only) her version of Canadian protest against creeping Americanism, even though we lived in Detroit. I never minded, and never laid much importance on the holiday thereby.

Still, gratitude enriches my life, like joy and cheerfulness - it needs to be practiced to be felt, not necessarily felt to be practiced. If only that would have been explained to me when I was ten.

So, ten T's.

T-shirt. Such a grand and simple invention of stretchy decency, political statement, offensive humor, dozy comfort and casual insouciance.

Tofurkey. That turkey that makes vegans happy, and actually tastes pretty good, much less dry than many an overcooked fowl.

Thumbs. Moby is frustrated at his lack of opposable ones, especially when on the wrong side of a door, or if we are slow about the can opener.

The. As in TPC. The evil organization from the The President's Analyst. The joys of English spelling. The word that is rarely alphabetized. When I worked in a library, I wanted to write a book titled "The the" just to mess with the cataloguers.

Trains. I love trains, love riding them, love the idea of them. Wish I could be on a train today. Miss the Boston trolly trains.

Thor. Well, the one from The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul. Never miss an opportunity to be grateful for Douglas Adams.

Tongue. Another much-spelled word, that has a taste all it's own. A baby's window on the world. It gives tea and beer and chocolate meaning.

Tides. First seen on a New Brunswick beach, the stranded kelp, under-sand creatures bubbling, warning signs and times posted to keep tourists from drowning. The whole world transformed as the sea returned. A glimpse of immensity.

Tesla. What a weirdo. The new electric car by the name looks cool. I like to think it sounds like a Theramin.

Thanks. A word that once seemed so heavy to carry on Halloween trick-or-treating, or on Christmas morning, especially on my birthday, that now provides buoyancy. Much appreciated.