I just got out of bed this Thankgiving morning. We've had a busy week, and today will be no exception. It would be easy to complain about all the work and all the fuss, the traffic everything else that this season brings. But you know, I'm here in a warm house that I co-own with the bank; out front there's a reliable car, my refrigerator is full of food, so much so it was a chore to find room for the Thanksgiving turkey prior to roasting. We anticipate my youngest daughter about 1:00 today she'll bring her husband and our two grandchildren, a girl twenty, a boy eighteen and their dog; my oldest daughter is already here. in short my whole family will be under the same roof; there are two pumpkin pies baked last night sitting on the counter. We are about to stuff the bird and get it into the oven, after which my wife will begin the task of candying the sweet potatoes. Some where around 4:00 this afternoon, we'll sit down to more food than we can eat in three days.

I have a lot to be thankful for. The above are just the highlights that apply to today. Beyond that, but more important, I've been married to the same woman for 51 years (loving her more each day as she takes in stride my slow transition) and I'm in good health at 73 years old.

All of that in light of the homelessness that I see in Portland, just a scant hour's drive east, gives me pause to give thanks. To reflect on how truly blessed I am...

God bless you all and: