We started a new Thanksgiving tradition this year, whereby everyone in attendance at turkey-day dinner writes a note about what they’re thankful for in a book dedicated to the subject.
We had a lovely gathering at Auntie Carolyn’s and Dan’s in Woburn, Mass with a beautifully brined bird and a gaggle of scrumptious and classic sides ranging from my gramma’s mashed potatoes, butternut squash and stuffing to a fresh mixed greens salad.
Here’s what people wrote about their gratitude in 2009:
This year I am thankful for so many many things. As always but hopefully not taken for granted – my amazing family, who are my amazing friends. I am so blessed for my nieces and nephews – and we are thrilled to welcome Kyle this year – my godson – and Sara’s wife Meg!! With grateful love, 2009 was a great year. P.S. and of course – I am thankful for my godsend – Mary. It is amazing how family is my rock.
- Kathleen
Thanks for a wonderful day, enjoying catching up with everone and laughing and sharing great memories! Always a treat!
-Libby
As always, we are thankful for each other: This year we are also thankful for Sara Jane and Meg getting married. We are thankful for our new addition, Madison (a puppy not a kid). We are thankful for two wonderful families, our house, our health and the opportunity to spend this day with many of them.
- Julie & Sarah
How grateful and thankful am I for all of you. We will keep these traditions going forever with you.
-Carolyn
So much to be thankful for – a loving, supportive husband, three healthy and mostly happy children and a great family who loves and helps us in many ways. We are so grateful for all these things and many, many more!
-Amy
Immensely grateful for my terrific wife, my three healthy kids, and the extended Callahan/Stanton gathering. Love coming to 40 Beacon Road each November.
-Bill
Thankful for life! Without it, what else would there be? Love! Our wonderful family: Keskulas, Stantons, Raleys, and Weimers – we are lucky for them alone. Our jobs – that we’re delighted to go to each day. Lovely colleagues. Good health. California! Friends. Yummy food. A bicycle – and legs that can crank it. A comfy nest. And a beautiful wife that’s an even more beautiful family and person. Gratitude to the Universe for these things and the future.
-Meghan
Things I am thankful for: friends and family, good and improving health and good people everywhere.
-Dan
Sara & Meg – Thanks for starting this wonderful tradtion! I am honestly thankful for everything in my life; but to get specific for this year…my cousin and friend Kathleen who keeps me smiling, my education and a job I love and all my family’s health and happiness.
-Mary
I am grateful for my family and extended family and many years of memories and times together. I am grateful to see the new additions and enjoy being able to see them grow. I am grateful for the experiences I have had in my full life.
-Judy
I am thankful for my wonderful family and friends and good health and the many blessings throughout this year.
-Paula
Thankful for family both new and old. Thankful for my new house and everyone’s good health.
-Eric
So thankful for such a loving and thoughtful family – Dan and Carolyn have been such loving/supportive friends during this year of scarcity – but they’ve made it feel bountiful! Thanks to all with love.
-Lizzie
I am thankful for friends, family and a well-brined turkey.
-Dan
I am grateful for my new daughter Meg and for my wonderful family which is growing happier and more blessed always! Our family is the best! Here’s to good health and hapiness in 2010.
-Susan
Billy [who refused to write in the book] is thankful to not yet be across the street [in the cemetery]!
I have the most abundant life! An amazingly beautiful wife, (yay meg!) The cutest, sweetest puppy/monkey. A comfortable home and the coziest nest possible. I am thankful for my job – something that I believe in and find fun. (yay Sweet!) Wonderful friends and the best family. Many years of bliss to come. Matazicals for life.
-Sara Jane
What’s a girl to write about when she’s inspired to focus, but can’t pinpoint the subject?
It’s a dilemma I’ve been facing for quite some time because Matazical.com is so random. I often feel left in the dust by some of the bloggers I follow who have honed in on one thing or another – Cameron’s “The Thin Green Line” blog on SFgate.com, Michelle’s foodie-heavy blog, Young House Love and Lauren’s PLoG’s Project. These folks have a loyalty to their subjects – the common link amongst all serious bloggers.
I told Sara Jane that I, too, wanted to focus on something…that I wanted to write every day. She, of course, encouraged me to write; and when I probed her to brainstorm potential subjects, she rattled off a list: what [I] cook, Albie, bike rides, RAN…
SJ’s laundry list reminded me that the not-so-very-random randomness of the happenings in my Matazical life was the original impetus of this endeavor.
An epiphany! The issue isn’t about about what to write. Instead, it’s the lack of habitual writing that’s keeping me down.
The FCC’s announcement to enforce net neutrality is a testament of its commitment to support consumer rights. Internet-related companies will argue that the FCC’s position prohibits them from better-managing the growing interweb, but I’m with the FCC on this one. I suspect the management of such media by corporations would have more to do with profit than mere admin efforts. As an end-user, I value most of the information I have access to via the web; as for the content that I couldn’t care less about – well – I don’t consciously seek it out. Furthermore, I will always support the voice of the people, whether it’s in the form of the presidential election, a peaceful protest or in this case, “internet consumption.” My virtual world need not be shaped by broadband corporations.
Oh, it’s also worth noting that the FCC is seeking public opinion as to how they might regulate specialized internet services. Check out Chris Walters‘ post at Consumerist.com for more info about providing said feedback.
I joined a softball league and have games every Saturday until mid-November. Prior to our first game last weekend, I hadn’t played ball since post-college with the Biaggi’s crew. This fall league is pretty laid-back, though not as much as I had anticipated – I hear they recruit for the spring season! The team’s are pretty large – ours is maxed-out with 16 on the roster; everybody bats, but the half-inning is over once a team has gone through its lineup. I batted once and was thrown out courtesy of a dribbler to second. Defense was solid – played outfield and second base for a little bit of action that totalled two put-outs and no errors. I was happy and am looking forward to today’s game.
At 10:00am this morning, the California Supreme Court announced its decision to uphold Proposition 8, which banned previously legal same-sex marriage in November 2008.
I thought I was prepared for the decision that many folks foresaw, and convinced myself to take such a decision in stride by telling myself that the rights I’ve been granted via my domestic partnership are sufficient. I’m grateful for those rights, but am not the slightest bit content with Prop 8. Instead, I feel engulfed in deep sadness.
Today is the anniversary of my dear friend Brian W. Paris’ birth! Happy birthday, BP! May you amplify the joy and happiness of your life in this great Universe!
That’s the tagline for the fantastic documentary we watched last nite, I.O.U.S.A. As Roger Ebert said, “…”IOUSA accomplishes an amazing thing. It explains the national debt.” Really clearly and simply. And it’s not a snoozer either. Here’s the 30-minute version posted on the flick’s website:
