This year, even though the times we currently live in have me taking pessimism to a religion,  I am REALLY going to try to count my blessings.  I truly do have a lot to be thankful for.  And hey, even as the pink slips are passed out and the stock market crashes all around us...we're all still breathing, right?  Let's jump into the ol’ history mobile, shall we?  With all street cred to Mr. Peabody and Sherman, let's set the mobile to the year 1621.  

We all know the story.  In the fall of that year, the 53 surviving pilgrims had a little shindig at which they gave thanks for their health and the good harvest.  They invited the Native American tribe of the area, the Wampanoag, to the feast as well.  These settlers did not specifically call their feast a "thanksgiving" feast, for those were religious events.  However, they did give thanks for the good harvest, as was the English tradition, dance.  At the feast were the 4 married women, 5 adolescent boys, 9 adolescent girls, 13 young children, and 22 men who had made it through that tough first winter.  All were Mayflower survivors.

 I'm sure what those survivors went through that first winter would make ANYTHING we're all going through these days look like a walk in the park, it's obviously a matter of perspective.  Regardless of perspective, it's tough now.  Let's try a little gratitude for making it through_______ (insert your black cloud here!)  If you are sitting reading this, you have survived it.  It may not be on the upswing just yet,  but stay in there!

However,  I am still amazed at the grasshoppers of us who are still spending like there is no tomorrow, and wait for hours  to be first in line for the latest tech toy. Take it from a newly
converted ant...we're not back on top yet, my friend!  Take it down a notch and save a bit for the winter.  

 I think after being kicked around by the politicians and banks for a while, our generation has come to believe in the adage that you never know what tomorrow brings!  Believe it or not, while things may have looked rosy in 1621, by 1633, the pilgrims had their first run in with the seventeen year locusts, in 1635 a hurricane, and in 1638, and earthquake.  There's ALWAYS going to be the next black cloud, but if we're prepared, at least when the cloudburst occurs, we can still be grateful we're standing!  Happy Thanksgiving!