Member-only story
A Heartfelt Thanks to My Readers
Your being here makes all the difference
With Thanksgiving only two days away, I, like so many of you, reflect on the things in this life for which we are thankful. I am the first to admit the past month has been a rough one, especially for those of us who were hoping for a better outcome from the U.S. election. Some people I know are scared. Others are angry. Some have withdrawn from social media. Others are organizing and supporting each other.
Me? I write.
The barren landscape of November, for me at least, is a perfect time for reflection. The trees are bare. The sun hangs in the southern sky, casting shadows at unfamiliar angles, only noticeable if one looks for them. The songbirds of summer are long gone, and only the year-round residents remain.
The daylight hours have grown short, and the bitter nip in the air tells me winter isn’t far off. My summer wardrobe, humble as it may be, is safely tucked away and replaced by flannel shirts, sweaters, hoodies, and mittens. Winter doesn’t play lightly in these parts. Where I live can be a harsh and brutal land. It can also be a place of great beauty and awe. For me, I would spend this time of year nowhere else.
Against this backdrop I find myself feeling grateful for those who have made this life worth living…
