Thanksgiving’s a day to remember our blessings

This week our son and daughter-in-law left for a three-year assignment in Italy. It’s an exciting opportunity for them — who wouldn’t want to spend three years in Italy — but we’re selfishly a little sad to have them so far away. Thank God for phones, email and FaceTime.

When they were here to say good-bye, it reminded us that Thanksgiving is a truly American holiday, and they would not only miss a traditional Thanksgiving Day with family and friends, but they would be in a country where it’s not even a holiday.

Therefore, we cooked them a traditional Thanksgiving dinner before they left and had a great time celebrating the holiday with them before they began their great adventure. We also had the advantage of buying all the fixings before the stores got crowded. It was a special meal and reminded us all that we can be thankful any day and any time; we don’t have to wait for the fourth Thursday in November.

But, since the fourth Thursday in November is upon us, it is the ideal time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for. Maybe the first thing in our minds is to be grateful we live in a country that gives many of us a day off to count our blessings and remember that the liberties we have because we live in the United States are truly something for which we are thankful.

Personally, we are extremely grateful to live in a community that takes its mandate to look out for others so seriously. It is overwhelming to see the number of people who contribute to others to make sure they have a special Thanksgiving meal. The amount of food donated is overwhelming, and the churches and community groups give bountifully. We truly appreciate the many people who give from their heart — and their pocketbooks — this time of year.

We are also overwhelmed each year to see Julian Garza close the McDonald’s on N.M. 528 near Southern Boulevard to serve Thanksgiving dinner to people who might otherwise be alone. Contributions like this from an individual and his business are what make this such a special community.

Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to shake off, even if it’s just for one day, all our frustrations, fears and concerns that living in today’s world causes. Regardless of everything else that is going on, we have much to be thankful for. There are the big things like family, friends, faith, country, but there are also the smaller things we can remember.

We’re thankful for the sunshine we wake up to almost every day in New Mexico.

We’re thankful for the peacefulness of Rio Rancho neighborhoods, and we’re thankful for neighbors who care about neighbors.

We’re thankful for the mountains whose beauty and majesty greet us each day.

We’re thankful for a home that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer — and the thermostats which make it easy for us.

We’re grateful to be able to watch the leaves change color as winter approaches.

We’re grateful for a child’s laughter.

We are thankful for automobiles.

We’re grateful for a whole bunch of little things we take for granted such as trash pickup, cell phone service, mail service, newspaper delivery, running water, full-service bathrooms, microwaves, post-it notes.

We are so appreciative of all the people in our lives that make our lives so much fuller.

Happy Thanksgiving.