"Thankful, Grateful, Blessed"

 That's the mantra, yes?  It's on signs, towels, plaques, although, as a member of POEM (Professional Organization of English Majors), my preference would be to list the words alphabetically.  Blessed, Grateful, Thankful.

Today, Thanksgiving, our various social media feeds and text messages will overflow with images and words defining what we are thankful, grateful and blessed for.  I'm right there with you, regardless of what you post.  Our lives overflow and it's fitting we put one of the 365 days a year to give recognition to what makes us thankful.  

There's a very nice editorial in today's Star Tribune which encourages us to count our blessings and reflect on the responsibilities they bring.  Well worth the read.

Yesterday we participated in Special Grandparents and Friends Day at Millie and Ethan's school, City of Lakes Waldorf School.  I don't know which impacted me more--the light in the children's eyes when they spied their grandparent/special friend in the audience or the equally bright, excited waves said grandparents/special friends demonstrated when their grandchild entered the room.  One of the teachers read a very lovely poem by United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, Perhaps the World Ends Here, which begins:

"The world begins at a kitchen table.  No matter what, we must eat to live."

Her students then recited another Harjo poem, which I think has particular impact on Thanksgiving Day.  Here it is, with my wish for more of whatever you and yours find yourselves Thankful, Grateful, Blessed for today.

Remember the sky that you were born under,
know each of the star's stories.
Remember the moon, know who she is.
Remember the sun's birth at dawn, that is the
strongest point of time. Remember sundown
and the giving away to night.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
to give you form and breath. You are evidence of
her life, and her mother's, and hers.
Remember your father. He is your life, also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
brown earth, we are earth.
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their
tribes, their families, their histories, too. Talk to them,
listen to them. They are alive poems.
Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the
origin of this universe.
Remember you are all people and all people
are you.
Remember you are this universe and this
universe is you.
Remember all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember language comes from this.
Remember the dance language is, that life is.
Remember.