Big Gratitude

I write a tad early because tomorrow I will be spending it with peeps I love and not typing!

I think sometimes we forget about that first Thanksgiving. A lot of people died that winter. And it was the beginning of our steps towards democracy... towards our America as we know it. Now I myself am to blame for this, but we often complain about our leaders and our problems with this country... we declare that we will buy a chateux in France and go be free and read and raise sheep (perhaps that's only my extreme idealistic daydream)... And we forget that in France taxes are indeed higher than they are here. So while we rant about rights and unfair this and how dare that president use the word "folks"-- I mock too, friends-- let's put that aside for today... all I'm asking for is one day... of pure gratitude for what the people who walked before us achieved for this country and let us be so grateful that we can for the most part not be afraid to walk down the street everyday. If you are reading this blog you are so fortunate to have a computer and be able to read this posting that I am writing and to write and publish your own ideas-- for free!-- and not get punished with violence for doing so! So today, you will get many reminders to be grateful for your loved ones... to be grateful that you still have your home after all the crazy fires... and all of that is fantastic! Yes, be grateful for those things too!! But what most people I think may forget, as the holidays round the corner and turkey becomes synonymous with Aunt Bertha's strange green dressing and Uncle Mervin's smelly hugs... what we forget is how amazing this country is to all of us most of the time. When we have a lot of great things it is easy to pick apart the annoying stuff. But seriously, guys. We are so darn lucky we don't even realize it. Google images of a third world country if you need some motivation for gratitude but today I am saying, "thank you, to those who took that first step in crossing the seemingly-infinite waters to get here and thank you pilgrims and indians for choosing to celebrate life and be friends together (at least the ones in Plymouth) and thank you founding fathers... thank all of you who have contributed in letting me be typing with freedom on this keyboard today."