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Are there really that many things for Thankful Day? Enough to make a full list? Why yes, there are.
There’s almost no traffic when i go to work. Really. For anyone who has spent as much time as i have trying to avoid traffic, it is bliss.
Speaking of, i have work. Not every client, but some, enough to be getting on with for the moment. And one who is scared her husband will be exposed insisted on paying me even though she asked me not to come. “Please let us do this for you!” she begged, and of course i could not refuse.
Only one client has behaved in such a way as to afford me the opportunity to dig deep and behave with charity and think the best and pray blessings, and i am thankful for that, too.
For a few days there, i kept forgetting my jacket with my wallet and having to go back and fetch it. Whatever brain glitch was causing that seems to have cleared up, thank heaven. Also, i downloaded LA Wallet, an app we have in this state that allows you to have a valid copy of your license on your phone, in case you forgot your wallet. This is the only state to have such a thing, how did that happen?
We get to see the neighbors walking, and talk to them from a safe distance as they pass. More of them are out than ever.
Kids on bikes. When i was young, we went everywhere on our bikes, and i am thankful to see lots of kids doing that now, especially as the bigger kids are shepherding younger siblings around the neighborhood.
Mike-Next-Door is still, even though he moved out of his parent’s house next door, still comes over and mows our lawn regularly.
The cat shelter has decided to close to all except the paid staff, but we can still keep up online. You can view all adoptable animals online, and you can virtually adopt a cat as a donation.
While at a client’s home a few days ago, i saw a very cheering sight. The front porch of a neighbor’s house was decorated, and a mom led her young daughter out on the porch as a minivan pulled up in front.
Those in the van jumped out and started singing the Happy Birthday song to the little girl on the porch. They sat under the shade of a tree in the yard and visited at a distance, and left an unwrapped gift that the mom grabbed and wiped down with sanitizer after they were gone. See, you don’t have to forego all celebrating just because of the distancing.
Because i do both get and have to keep working, i can run errands for those who can’t.
See, that’s ten, and there will be more next week.
Please write up your own list and link up to Ten Things of Thankful, where Kristi and her co-hosts always have a warm welcome waiting.
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Today is:
Children's Picture Book Day -- while i can't find a sponsor for this day, starting kids on a lifelong love of books is as good an excuse for a holiday as any
Commemoration of Sen no Rikyu -- Urasenke School of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, Japan (remembering the influential master in The Way of Tea)
Earth Hour -- 8:30pm-9:30pm, your local time; turn off your lights to take a stand against climate change
Feast of Artemis -- Ancient Greek Calendar (as protector of wild animals, vegetation, and places, begins at sundown; date approximate)
Festival of the Sacrifice at the Tombs -- Ancient Roman Calendar (to honor the ancestors)
"Greatest Show on Earth" Day -- Barnum and Bailey merged their circuses on this day in 1881
Hot Tub Day -- because we all need one!
Invasion of Loaming Shores Beyond the Certain Sea Anniversary -- Fairy Calendar
Khordad Sal (Birth of the Prophet Zarathushtra) -- Zoroastrianism (Fasli Calendar)
Komamorijinja Reisai -- Nakaedo, Kashi-sh, Gifu, Japan (festival of the the Kosazukeishi "child-granting stone")
National Black Forest Cake Day
Ragnar Lodbrok's Day -- Asatru/Slavic Pagan Calendar (remembrance of this Viking's sack of Paris)
Respect Your Cat Day -- anniversary of King Richard II's edict in 1384 forbidding the consumption of cats
Serfs Emancipation Day -- Tibet
Something on a Stick Day -- something edible, of course, what were you thinking? never mind; almost everything tastes better on a stick
St. Guntramnus' Day (Patron of divorced people, guardians, repentant murderers)
Teachers' Day -- Czech Republic; Slovakia
Weed Appreciation Day -- at last, for those of us with black thumbs, since this is all we can grow! "Weeds are flowers once you get to know them!" A.A. Milne
Birthdays Today:
Lady Gaga, 1986
Julia Stiles, 1981
Annie Wersching, 1977
Kate Gosselin, 1975
Scott Mills, 1974
Juliandra Gillen, 1971
Vince Vaughn, 1970
Reba McEntire, 1955
Dianne Wiest, 1948
Ken Howard, 1944
Conchata Ferrell, 1943
Jerry Sloan, 1942
Freddie Bartholomew, 1924
Dirk Bogarde, 1921
Irving "Swifty" Lazar, 1907
August Anheuser Busch, Jr., 1899
Maxim Gorky, 1868
Frederich Pabst, 1836
St. Teresa of Avila, 1515
Fra Bartolomeo, 1472
Debuting/Premiering Today:
"Hair"(Rock musical), 1968
"Philadelphia Story"(Play), 1939
Today in History:
Roman Emperor Pertinax is assassinated by Praetorian Guards, who then sell the throne in an auction to Didius Julianus, 193
Viking raiders sack Paris, who leave in exchange for a huge ransom, 845
The origin of the Fasli Era in India, 1556
Juan Bautista de Anza finds the site for the Presidio of San Francisco, 1776
Nathaniel Briggs of NH patents a washing machine, 1797
Heinrich Wilhelm Matthäus Olbers discovers 2 Pallas, the second asteroid known to man, 1802
The US Salvation Army is officially organized, 1885
Henri Fabre becomes the first person to fly a seaplane, 1910
Jews are expelled from Tel Aviv & Jaffa by Turkish authorities, 1917
Constantinople and Angora change their names to Istanbul and Ankara, 1930
The McGill français movement protest occurs, the second largest protest in Montreal's history, 1969
Operators of Three Mile Island's Unit 2 nuclear reactor outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania fail to recognize that a relief valve in the primary coolant system has stuck open, leading to a partial meltdown, 1979
In South Africa, Zulus and African National Congress supporters battle in central Johannesburg, resulting in 18 deaths, 1994
The 2005 Sumatran earthquake rocks Indonesia, and at magnitude 8.7 is the second strongest earthquake since 1965, 2005
At least 1 million union members, students, and unemployed take to the streets in France in protest at the government's proposed First Employment Contract law, 2006
Australian diplomat Peter Woolcott's draft for the first-ever treaty to regulate the conventional arms trade is discussed by members of the United Nations, 2013
Pope Francis becomes the first Pope to wash the feet of women in the Maundy Thursday service, 2013
Britain introduces the first new pound coin in 30 years with a secret security feature inside to stop counterfeiting, 2017
The world's largest dinosaur footprint at 1.7 metres found in Kimberley, Western Australia, 2017
The study of a gene mutation that allows a 71-year-old British woman to never feel pain is published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, 2019
I'm thankful that (so far) my city and state hasn't been as hard hit by the virus as others. I'm thankful that I have a home to isolate in, with enough supplies that I don't need to visit the shops longer than just a couple of minutes to get the daily paper.
ReplyDeleteLove your list - and have been super impressed at the innovative ways people have found to celebrate/commiserate despite the restrictions.
ReplyDeleteHearth warming ten. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWe still have many things to be thankful for in spite of this pandemic. Thankful that we are able to stock up provisions, have food on the table and hope for better tomorrow.
ReplyDelete"St. Guntramnus' Day (Patron of divorced people, guardians, repentant murderers)"
ReplyDeleteI genuinely laughed out loud - thank you for that. :-)
That was really a nice list, there are lots of thankfuls out n' about!
ReplyDeleteWonderful list of thankfuls and glad you are able to socialize from a distance ~
ReplyDeleteBe Well,
A ShutterBug Explores
Your list is wonderful! It reminds us of how thankful we are. Especially us cats who can now explore outside and we are not cooped up in the city.
ReplyDeletePurrs
Marv
I too am grateful for the joys of driving these days. The few cars on the road are moving along within the speed limit and being courteous to others. Something I usuallyt dread has become enjoyable if only for a little while.
ReplyDeleteThe app tip is a good idea. What I did and while I certainly do not know if it'll work is I took a picture of my driver's license, converted it to a pdf and have it stored on my phone in iBooks. At least I have it on my phone if I need to show it for any reason and I'm without the original. I'm thankful that we're healthy and so are all of my family members that I know of and I'm trusting God to keep all those I love safe during these turbulent days. Do be careful and stay well, my friend!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your list of thankfuls. Stay safe out there. XO
ReplyDeleteNo traffic is a great thing to be thankful for!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard about having a digital copy of a driver's license stored on a phone, but that is definitely an intriguing idea.
I agree. There are always thankfuls. Yes, less traffic! While a little eerie, I am totally enjoying driving with way, way less cars on the road. For sure there are more people out, walking and biking and enjoying the outdoors. And that's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteKids on bikes.... oh yes the simple joys of biking.... good to see that it is back.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I keep trying to comment with no luck...this is another test comment! Testing testing!
ReplyDeleteWOOHOO!!! AT LAST!!!!
DeleteYour positivity is a delight, messymimi. Love your list of gratitude. Like Jz I laughed out loud about St. Guntramnus' Day (Patron of divorced people, guardians, repentant murderers) I wonder if there is a saint for general repentant criminals?
ReplyDelete