To You
If I focus on loss this Thanksgiving, I will not survive the holiday. Instead, I tell you:
I am thankful for my fav cuz Corinne Sampson whom I can call whenever I need someone to listen and who can call me when she needs someone to listen to her and who of all the millions and billions of souls on this planet entirely gets my sense of humor. Thank you.
I am thankful for Kimberly who takes care of my beach house, for Pam who takes care of my New Orleans house, for Ed who builds things for us, for Joey who hung my pictures, for Raul who cares about my plants, for the electricians who gave us light and cold air and the plumber who maintains and the bread maker who bakes and the locksmith who said, “Just squirt it with some penetrating oil,” rather than charging me an arm and a leg to fix a broken lock. Thank you.
I am thankful for the expansion of my marriage to include two wonderful sons, two amazing daughters-in-law, and three unique grandsons, all of whom support me as part of their families, for which I am grateful. Thank you.
I am thankful for my new neighbors who smile and speak and make sure I hear them greeting me even if I am lost in a world of my own. Thank you.
I am thankful for Wanda Stewart whom I met in the Door of Hope Writing Group and who texts me every morning to say “Good Morning” and when I see her text, I know all is right in the world. Thank you.
I am thankful for our mail carriers and the UPS drivers and the FedEx folks who bring to our door what we can no longer go out into the world to safely acquire. Thank you.
I am thankful for women friends I’ve made late in life when that is so hard and, though the Crones are now scattered to the corners of North America and my time in Waveland with Jennifer has shriveled, they still stay in regular, healing touch with me. Thank you.
I am thankful for Mel and Pearl Shaw for leading the fundraising on the Ida B. Wells statue in Memphis, TN, which I have wanted to see erected for over fifteen years and which is going to become reality because of the dedication of the wonderful Mel and Pearl. Thank you.
I am thankful for Lynn Watkins and Melissa and Barbara and Susan and the other artists in my life who have overwhelmed me by their bravery in pursuing their talent and without whose creative drive to inspire me, I might have given up this writing life long ago.
I am thankful for my sisters (and my silent but supportive brother) who have stepped into the breach created by the death of my mother and made sure this loss did not estrange us but made us now the family to each other. Thank you.
I am thankful for Aguilar’s Upholstery who took my old furniture and bedazzled it into newness, and now every time I look into my greeting room with the Aztec orange fabric or my bedroom with the driftwood blue chair, I am happy. Thank you.
I am thankful for blog readers who are lovely enough to read and comment on my posts whether they’ve known me for decades or will never, ever meet me in person. Thank you.
I am thankful for the people I don’t know who keep electricity humming through my house, clean water in my taps, wifi powering my computer, garbage from overflowing my abode, and particularly the unknown person who decorates the pothole at the end of the street with dummies and flowering plants and Christmas lights. Thank you.
I am thankful for Evangeline who seeks me out so she can protect me or nap while I work or give me two licks on my hand every time (every time!) I offer her water. Thank you.
I am thankful with all of my heart for Tom Prewitt who enables these blessings, brought them into my world, loves who I love, feeds me each day, accepts my moods, sees me as a much better person than I am, and without whom I would not now be sitting at my laptop listing the people in my life who make my heart bloom with thanksgiving. Thank you, my love.
Susanne
Thank you for this post. Grateful I am for the blogosphere and for your writing.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
You make the blogosphere a kind place <3
Patricia Suttle
Wonderful words of gratitude from you for me, on break, feet up, from putting ingredients together, keeping a tradition for just husband & me in 2020. At least Macy’s Parade & Nat’l Dog Show are continuing, w/o live viewers, so I can be a kid again watching TV! Thank you, Ellen,
Patricia
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Patricia, that sounds wonderful! It will just be Tom and me as well, but I plan on stacking the end of the table with photos of those we love. Hope you have a wonderful parade, and I forgot about the Nat’l Dog Show–Evangeline likes to watch!
Suzanne Henley
Backatcha, lovely Lady E. T’giving for your man too.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
?
Melissa
Me? I’m grateful for y’all- your unerring support and hospitality.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Oh, yes. I have admired your journey for years. I am simply glad that we have been able to be a part of it.
Joanne Corey
<3 Thank you for the post. Gratitude is contagious!
Ellen Morris Prewitt
For me, when times are difficult, it makes me more grateful for those who are helping me get by. And that certainly applies in 2020!
Donna Weidner
<3
Michael
Well said. The other day, while pumping old dinosaur forests into my truck, I wondered just how many people (many from Louisiana) were involved with my fill-up. And except for the shaved-headed Camel smoker cashier, I’ll never know. We can be perplexed by 2020, but this is still the most incredible time to be a human. Let’s hang on to our attitude of gratitude.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
“Old ? forests” ? Elli would love that. And the way I see it, we now have a gratitude pact ? I hope you have a good if perplexing Thanksgiving
Floridia
What beautiful words “people in my life who make my heart bloom with thanksgiving.”
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I am thankful for you, Floridia, and even though we are not physically in each other’s orbit, your wisdom is in my brain, guiding decisions.?
Marisa
Beautiful post, and gives me so much perspective during these (extra) trying times! I’m so grateful for your friendship and mentorship–I still want to be you “when I grow up!”
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I think of you often, Marisa, as the masks you made at the beginning of this pandemic are still our favorites. In fact, I was visiting my cousin and was momentarily confused when I saw the mask her husband had which he said was his favorite. I thought, that’s the same fabric that Marisa used! Then I remembered that you had sent them some, too. So I send continued thanks for this.❤️
Marie A Bailey
A wonderful list of thank yous, Ellen! I am thankful to have you in my world 🙂
Ellen Morris Prewitt
And you in mine. 🙂