11/24/14, Countdown
Hi Everyone,
As of today, the countdown has begun. We are entering the ‘zone’ now, with Thanksgiving in a few days, and as of today Christmas is exactly a month away. And if you have people on your list you’re going to shop for, it’s time to get serious.
I’m one of those annoying people who start Christmas shopping in August. When I see something that looks like the right gift for someone on my list, from August on, I buy it. And in September, I actually start shopping. But the net result is that I now have gifts for employees, friends, people I do business with, have ordered chocolates for the nurses at my pediatrician, dentist, and vet, and even for my dry cleaner in Paris, but the MOST important people on my list, my children, have yet to tell me what they want. So I’m still going to have to go shopping. And I have to beg to find out what they want. I start shopping early so I won’t get caught in the crush in stores at Christmas, and so they don’t run out of sizes, and by October I have it pretty well nailed…..EXCEPT for my kids. So I’m still as stumped as you are, and will be dashing to some store on the 23rd of December.
And with Thanksgiving this week, the holidays have begun in earnest. I particularly like the symbolism of Thanksgiving, a day for giving thanks (and eating way too much!!!). It is a day for excess, a ton of food (I like the stuffing best, and cranberry jelly), and although whipped cream always upsets my stomach, particularly after a huge meal, but I can never resist it. So I will heap it on the pumpkin and apple pie for dessert, and will roll away from the table after!!! But beyond the food we eat on that day, there is the reminder to give thanks for our blessings and for the people at our table. Or it’s a day when we have an opportunity to give back to those less fortunate. Many of my friends work in shelters serving or preparing food that day, and when I was working on the streets on homeless outreach, we always went out to reach out to as many people as we could the night before Thanksgiving. And as we sit down at our table that day, all of us, it’s good to remember those who are alone, or lonely, or may not have a meal to eat. If we can reach out to even one person that day, it makes the holiday even more important. It’s an issue too for many people about who they spend it with, or if they have anyone at all. Gathering friends who have nowhere else to go is an important part of Thanksgiving. And sometimes it’s easier to be with friends than family on that day, depending on how well family members get along.
And once we get through Thanksgiving, the days will just fly by. A few weeks to shop, make plans, invite friends, decide where to go or who to invite, and the next thing you know, we will be nose to nose with Christmas, and our plans or lack of them then. And then there will be New Year’s to get through, and after that we can all heave a sigh of relief and relax. But for now it’s just beginning.
I hope you have a truly wonderful Thanksgiving, that it unfolds just the way you want it to and that you can be with those you love. But if not, remember those who will be so grateful for your company or a helping hand. I will think of you on Thanksgiving, and please know that you are top of the list of things and people that I am grateful for. Have a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday.
love, Danielle
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I always have a Thanksgiving meal at home with my two girls. We always cook together and give thanks for all the nice things. This year we will not have a Christmas tree (Can’t afford it) Which is usually our tradition right after we eat our turkey. But we still gonna watch a movie and have our hot cocoa. And I am o grateful to be able to have a place to live a job and health.
Thank you for thinking of your followers. I will be staying home with a broken arm this year but look forward to the healing and getting back into life. I am thankful for my Son.
thanks Danielle for all the wonderful books you share with us..Happy Thanksgiving Day..
First I sincerely wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. I thank God every night for all our blessings. Sadly my husband pasted away last December and his Thanksgiving he stated he was thankful to be alive and all the family second his motion. I just wanted to tell you that through many of his hospital stays as I stayed with him everyday and his convalescent weeks in between which went on for many months, I quietly sat and read ALL you books. I continued reading them up to today which I just finished Pegasus and have to wait ’til Feb. 2015, to read Prodigal Son. Reading your books took my mind in another direction to help pass time and helped in the healing, mourning process. In 2001, I too lost a son, but to a drunk driver. Nonetheless thank you for your wonderful stories. Again, Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Turkey day Danielle – We have so much to be thankful for. I love the holidays and the music. Its great to
see the children enjoying the holidays too. I avoided the TV so I wouldn’t have to tolerate the losers (Dems.) crying
& complaining in Washington. They’ll never accept their medicine anyway – hahaha. I’m talking about the
Tidal Wave that hit them. It was the greatest election ever for the people who believe in America and it showed the communists where we stand. I thought the greatest turkey was Pelosi’s MIT fan MR. Gruber. He won the Turkey of the year on Fox news. He was a real winner. Anyway – best wishes on thanksgiving and have a great time – –
Mike
A few weeks ago when “Pegasus” first appeared on the shelves of Barnes & Noble I was filled with excitement and anticipation. My eyes were watery after the first 3 or 4 paragraphs. I still have yet to purchase the novel but all in due time. (It sounds amazing and believe it or not I was wracking my brain a few months back trying to figure out a plot for an idea I had about the Circus. It was around the time Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey came to NY. Never got around to figuring out a plot though. Just a good title for the name of the circus in the story (go figure)). Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. May the rest of this year greet you with open arms.
I am thankful for you and your writing — both in your books and on your blog. It is nice to know that, in an often cruel or uncaring world, there are still people who search for beauty and decency. Your writing gives me reason to hope even when life is disappointing.