As Thanksgiving draws near here in the US, the joy of that holiday is dampened by continued surges of covid cases and deaths, by court cases and events that seem to elevate darkness and violence and an assault on our rights. I know I’m not alone in having to take a break from the news to focus my energies on more positive things.
I’m writing (not very fast) the third Little Sister Island book, tentatively titled The New Shore. I’m learning to enjoy the freedom of being retired – though my wife laughs at my tendency to make lists for myself of the things I want to get done daily. And I’m trying to take better care of my grumpy back.
Unlike last Thanksgiving when we could only zoom and FaceTime, we’ll be going to my sister’s house to share that meal with family, including my brother-in-law’s mother, who is here from Belgium.
We’ve been able to continue supporting our local food bank and Feeding Pets of the Homeless, both charities I used to donate to with spring and fall fundraisers back when the world was a friendlier, or at least a more predictable, place.
I long for that sense of what used to be predictable and normal, but I don’t know if that will ever come back. At times, it seems we’re headed for days of greater darkness, more threats to our rights and our freedoms – things we have long taken for granted. I don’t think we’ll ever take those things for granted again.
When the world feels like too much, when bad things are happening that are beyond our control, all we can do is do what we can.
Wishing you all a safe, healthy holiday with your loved ones.
Pax
CJWerlinger 
Here’s hoping your Thanksgiving is a peaceful one filled with love, and bless you for helping where you can.
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well, Carolyn!
I hope you and your extended family have a great Thanksgiving together! The little things seem all the more meaningful during all the turmoil in the world.
They do, Lisa. It will be so nice to all be together this year. 🙂
My cousin works with homeless people. Several years ago, a client with a dog, passed away and my cousin took the dog in and loved her for several years before she, too, passed away. I loved seeing the pics of my cousin and Banjo.
What a great thing to do! I so hate to see animals surrendered to shelters when their people die. Your cousin did a wonderful thing.
Ain’t that the truth! Your writing is a positive influence — I’ve been re-reading and am “under the influence.” Looking forward to Little Sister III!
Elizabeth, thank you so much! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
I just read 3 of your books, including the Little Sister books, and loved them all. I will be watching out for book three. I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to feel the sense of peace you create when you write. It has been a long stretch of hard times , including the pandemic and all it brought us, and like everyone else, I have been struggling. I appreciate being able to lose myself in the soft stories you create. xo
Kath, thank you so much! I’m very much enjoying being back on Little Sister myself! 🙂 Wishing you a peaceful holiday season, c