A complete stranger sitting next to me said….”Thank goodness Thanksgiving is only once a year.” I smiled politely and replied “Should it only be once a year?”

This stranger looked at me inquisitively as I proceeded to say we should think about all of the things we are grateful for EVERY DAY. And I’m not just talking about the big things like our families (real and pretend), good health (it could always be worse) or the roof over our head. I’m talking about the little things we just love about our everyday life but don’t think about.

The stranger continued to smile and look at me without saying a word. I babbled on by expressing that life was like the song from Sound of Music….My Favorite Things.

She looked like she didn’t know what I was talking about so without a pause, I started singing!

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

This polite stranger then told me the song is very nice and agreed we need to think of everything in our life and be grateful. She patted my hand and then asked me tactfully to get out of her car before she called the police.

I’ll rewind a little bit here…like most people I’m a little scattered trying to get stuff done before Thanksgiving. My big mistake was going to the car dealer on Wednesday for my oil change. Apparently, I was not the only minty van in the shop and I just went into autopilot and hopped into the wrong car! (I blame the dealership for leaving the keys in the car and finishing 2 identical cars at the same time.  My new friend was waiting in the passenger seat for her husband to finish paying when I entered the vehicle.)

With laughter in our voices, we both wished each other a nice holiday and I left her vehicle as her husband walked up to get in.

I guess this can be just one more thing to be grateful for on Thursday….the good people we run into each and every day.

Happy Thanksgiving, my dear readers….I am grateful that you make me part of your busy, sometimes scattered lives!