Before Christmas sets in, one more "thanksgiving" list

                A poet friend in Mountain Home has shared on Facebook all during this month a daily “Gratitude” event/ situation/ epiphany.

I wrote a poem some time ago about being thankful for things beginning with each letter of the alphabet. Let me do the same thing for today’s world/ nation/ state/ county/ community/ home.

A – America, of course, the first word that comes to mind. Even with the recent “-phobias” planted and reaped by the presidential campaign, Americans must act out of a love for country and all who dwell therein.
B – Bees, for without them, experts say, our food supply may dwindle into nothing we’ve even thought about.
C – Coffee and all things related to growing, picking, packing and shipping. I think I need it daily.
D – Dictionaries, one of which I turn to a page per letter skimming until I find something I’m thankful for. I’m thankful to BBF Dot for giving me the one I’m using now.
E – Environment: air, water, earth, climate. May we be thankful enough to guard it wisely.
F – Flowers, easy to grow, pleasing to the eye and to the environment, examples of dying only to live again in another time.
G – Good Samaritans who see needs and attends to them with no thought of recompense.
H – Hope—sometimes the only thing that seems to be left in certain situations of illness, death, destruction, obstruction.
I – Introspection, looking inward, naming emotions, wondering about things.
J – Jocularity—joking; full of fun – A phrase often used by our choir director, as in “Too much jocularity!” when we get off task.
K – kinfolk or kinfolks—cherished family, relatives, special friends--especially during Thanksgiving.
L – Linemen who keep our electricity flowing during stints of bad weather.
M – Microwaves, which save time and effort. I parch raw peanuts in mine, one layer deep, using a Pampered Chef baker (dish) for four minutes and 15 seconds.
N – Nature, in all its meanings, especially the physical universe and its forces.
O – Oxygen, especially bottled oxygen for those with breathing issues, like JaJo and Bill.
P – Police officers, including a grandson. Oh, Lord, keep watch over them during these tumultuous days.
Q – Quests: may we always be on one or another.
R – Renewal—in all ways possible: personal, national, natural resources, recycling.
S – Seasons of the year: spring, summer, fall, winter, each with its own story and glory.
T – Traditions, such as Thanksgiving get-togethers and the first day of Christmas sales.U – Unity—something to strive toward in matters of importance
V – Vision to see beyond our own narrow interests to those of the larger community.
W -- Writers, poets and philosophers who share their experiences with the rest of us.
X – X-rays. They might discover problems that can be treated.
Y – Yesterdays and the thoughts thereof that sometimes force us into something better.
Z – Zinnias, those colorful annuals that defy death until the deadliest freeze.

Happy Thanksgiving. Giving thanks happily. Thanks for giving happily.