I’ve started my gratitude list to share on Thanksgiving Day. It’s a tradition my granddaughters started a couple of year ago. We all take turns reading our lists aloud.

Here’s mine:

1. My family. We are all healthy, mostly happy, very fortunate and reasonably bemused human beings.

2. Firefighters. (I live in California. Really, what else can I say? Heroes all!!!)

3. Good friends. Never underestimate the value of someone who shares the same number of decades as you. They save you from having to explain who Tom Jones is or how to use a rotary phone.

4. Book lovers: people who love to read, people who write fabulous stories I can’t wait to read, publishing professionals who make the books I love to write and read, writer and reader friends who help me navigate this crazy business of book production with humor and a modicum of grace.

5. The last peaceful day before Christmas. That’s how I’ve come to regard Thanksgiving. I’m all about the feast, the conversation, and the respite today offers!

6. The fact that I have a house. It’s not perfect, but it’s also not burned to the ground. My “stuff” has not reduced to ash. I have running water, a good roof, a cozy bed, and I don’t have to rebuild it all from scratch.

7. Food. And the means to prepare it.

   The list goes on, but you get the idea. Most of us are pretty darn lucky, but fire doesn’t play fair and so many people in this beautiful state have been impacted by the devastating wild fires.

   I live a long way from the two large fires, but my heart aches for all those displaced by this catastrophe. Next week, my granddaughters and I will be buying $10 gift cards at WalMart, Target and Grocery Outlet to send to victims of the Camp Fire. I got this idea from my dear friend Barbara McMahon. She wrote: “Can you spare $10? If everyone bought one $10 gift card at Walmart or Target, or a Visa card or gas card or something that is universally used, and sent it to the victims of this devastation, it would help so much.” She inspired me to research how to make this happen.

   Here is what I learned: “Officials in California say the victims of the fires would benefit from gift cards to Walmart, Target, gas stations or grocery stores, as well as other stores in the affected areas, including the grocery store Raley’s, Food Maxx, Grocery Outlet, Rite-Aid, CVS, Walgreens, Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Big Lots.”

   If you’re interesting in helping those impacted by the Camp Fire, hese are addresses where you can send gift card donations:

   Evacuation Shelters, Neighborhood Church of Chico, 2801 Notre Dame Blvd. in Chico, California 95928

   Oroville Hope Center, 1950 Kitrick Ave A, Oroville, California 95966

    Habitat for Humanity Yuba/Sutter ReStore at 202 D St. in Marysville, California 95901.

   Wishing you all a happy, happy Thanksgiving!

   Deb

    

   PS: Here’s a little Thanksgiving gift for all my readers!

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