Thursday, November 24, 2011

HAPPY THANKSGIVING


I have been away from this blog for such a long time - four weeks to the day - that you may have thought that the Queen of the Fairies did spy me on Samhain Eve and spirited me away. But no, here I still am.

It seems to me that I went to sleep on a balmy Halloween Eve and awoke to a whole new world. A whole new world of:

Colder weather.

A brand new month, a month I'm not very fond of.

A new job, which meant jumping out of my comfort zone and into yet another learning-new-things zone.

Going back to working full time, when I had been spoiled working afternoons for about six weeks.

Getting up in the dark.

The time change.

I adapted to the new world of November, as one always does, having learned the new job, having adjusted to the time change and waking up at 6:30, having put my beautiful garden to sleep, having dragged out the winter coat, hats and gloves.

Yesterday, I had a couple of setbacks. I learned that my employers grossly overestimated the amount of work they had for us, and our jobs will be winding down by the end of next week at the latest, instead of the end of December. (And new temp jobs are few and far between in December.)

When I drove home at the end of the day, I knew something was definitely wrong with my car, and I had to limp it home. I am praying it is something small and not monumental like the transmission.

Of course, immediately my mind jumped to the worst scenarios: no jobs all winter, no car. The only thing going for yesterday, it seemed, was the unheard of temperature of  62 degrees. Indeed, it broke a record for Bismarck on Nov. 23.

But here it is Thanksgiving Day and I find I do have a lot to be grateful for.

Although it will be just Dan and me for Thanksgiving this year, my sister will have Christmas off and we'll all celebrate together, including Kristen, who flies in Christmas Morning.

The ground remains brown, not white, and promises to remain so until the calendar page turns to December. As everyone around here is saying, "That's one less month of winter for us", as November has been known to wallop us with a blizzard in its first week.

I have been continuously employed for 13 months, yay! And the economy in Bismarck is so good that I will probably get another assignment early in the new year.

I have plenty of food to eat, a cozy house, a husband who loves to cook (even Thanksgiving dinners), and my sweet but nutty dog, Gracie.

I am not one of those crazy ass people out shopping at Wal-Mart today, or going to bed early tonight so they can get up at MIDNIGHT and enter the insanity of Black Friday.

I AM one of those people who has not forgotten the meaning of Thanksgiving and does not let Christmas madness overtake this day.

The car will eventually get fixed. I'll eventually get another job. And if winter comes, can spring be far behind?

I am truly blessed. I hope you all are too. Happy Thanksgiving.

10 comments:

Robin Larkspur said...

I am very late with Thanksgiving greetings, but hope you and your husband had a nice one! Good luck with the car, and job! I will be thinking of you! I, too, will be hiding out in my cozy home on Friday, away from the madness of shopping chaos! Unbelievable these commercial blitzes! Take care!

Kath said...

A lovely post Julie.
You might enjoy this one at the blog of oone of my followers, who lives in Ireland
http://aheronsview.blogspot.com/2011/11/faery-at-large.html

Happy Thanksgiving xx

Leanne said...

nice post julie, keeping it all in perspective.

Leanne x

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Great post - we all need to think along these lines. Things do work out.

gma said...

Julie, Happy to hear your weather has been cooperating this fall. Indeed there is much to be thankful for. As always I send warm thoughts your way.
xx gma

Michele said...

A belated Happy Thanksgiving to you! So glad to "see" you here again. I, too, stop & appreciate the holiday at hand, wouldn't dream of going out shopping on Black Friday! We did buy our Yule tree today but it will stand, undecorated, until tomorrow evening at the earliest.

Anonymous said...

Way to keep you head high lady!! You are a true soldier witch! I'm glad you had a great Thanksgiving, and I am willing to bet you can will your winter to be fabulous! Hugs to you :)

Annie Jeffries said...

Dear Julie,

I hope you will look back on THIS November and a happy one floating in a sea of not so fond of Novembers. Thirteen months of work; what a blessing. And family ALL together at Christmas. The hope for another assignment because of a good economy. Awesome for North Dakota. Hope the car fix turns out to be fast and easy and not a money pit.

Advent blessings to you and yours, Annie

Leanne said...

Julie

my blog is currently unavailable while i tweak things. Send me an email to somersetseasons@hotmail.co.uk
with whatever email you prefer to use and I'll send you an invite to have access again. all will be explained later.

Leanne x

Lila Rostenberg said...

Hugs to you Julie! I hope your car is holding up!
You certainly have a great Christmas to look forward to, as well as many other things for which to give thanks!
I too wonder at what people think they "need" so badly that they rush out to find it on Black Friday...a quiet weekend was had here, not shopping!