Through The Kitchen Window

As happens so often on the way to submitting my column, I got side tracked by something that was far more important that needed saying. In this case, TWO more important somethings.

This past weekend was Thanksgiving here on the northern side of the border. Once our dinner was over and everyone had gone home, I sat down for some quiet time and jotted down a few reasons to be thankful.

I'm thankful for ALL of it . . .

• the bad, which taught me the humility of allowing others to help when I needed it . . . and to be there for others when it was their turn . . .
• the good, which taught me to revel in the moment and not dwell on the things gone wrong . . . because so many went right too . . .
• the tough, which taught me that there is strength in being able to admit not wanting to go on . . . and made me learn to draw on the strength of others in those times . . .
• the easy, which taught me to appreciate . . . and taught me that not all of life's good things are a struggle . . .
• the problems with my health, which taught me that everything can be overcome and lived through . . .

at the ripe old age of 51, it's time to reflect, reassess and restate . . .

for all the things listed above, and for all the reasons mentioned and inferred, I am TRULY thankful . . . but, in my heart of hearts, the following are the things for which I am MOST thankful . . .

• my children, who make everything I did, and do, worthwhile . . . they make me proud daily, of their accomplishments . . . they set me in awe every moment of every day because of the truly fine people they have become and how much they care about each other and me . . .
• my bubba, Larry, who loves me unconditionally, whole-heartedly and truly . . . who loves me enough to give me the freedom I need . . . who puts up with the bitch I know (and he has found out) I can be . . . yet who always makes me feel loved, cherished, truly treasured . . .
• my friends, those really good and true, old and new, with whom I can be myself, with no pretense, and who are always there to share parts of themselves with me . . .

it's had its ups and downs, good and bad . . . times, not really all that long ago, when I couldn't see a way out of the darkness . . . and times when the sun looked as if it would keep shining forever . . . words have been said that can't be unsaid, mistakes made that will never be unmade, but are learned from . . . friends found and lost, battles won and lost . . .

in all, it's been a great 51 years, and for that I'm thankful . . .

bring on the next 51!!!

And then I wanted to mention also that my son Matthew, the one who’s working in England as a chef, has made the semi-finalists list for the Gordon Ramsay Scholar Awards Competition. We’re as excited, and nervous, as can be for him. For the great opportunity, and the great possibilities that lie ahead for him now.

This link shows the semi-finalist list, Matt’s name is on the Working Chefs list:

and this link shows a clip of last year’s competition:

So, I guess, really, this is yet another thing to be thankful for.

As our American neighbours go into their thanksgiving celebrations, I wish you all the best joys of the season, the pleasures of sharing with family and friends, and the making of wonderful memories for many years to come.

TTFN!!!