Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone

Earth is turning and a massive star burns.
The unfailing harvest from the soil arrives
in its true season and every living day
succumbs to the dark and restive night.

Hearts are beating and lungs expanding,
the brain exerts its power of language and love,
blood strains relentlessly for its destination
as our bodies continue on.

We do nothing in all the days of our lives
to keep these laws in motion
or call them forth to complete their roles.
Nothing we do allows our eyes to open each morning.

And so for all that we cannot do on our own,
for the gift of free will and lives of unending choices,
for this food, and love we learn through time on Earth,
we thank you God for your blessings.
--Diane Vogel Ferri.

As we considered what we might share with you this holiday, we thought back to our earlier messages (from last year, the year before that, and three years ago). This year, nothing touched us quite the same as our friend Diane's tender, moving holiday poem. So thanks to her for sharing it. And while we respect this fellow's opinions about stuffing, we must take strong exception to it. To the contrary, we think this dish is divinely inspired, especially in the hands of our sainted mother-in-law, Mary, whose cooking routinely brings strong men to tears, as it will again in a few hours. Have a blessed day, y'all. We love and cherish you in an extra special way on this holiday, wherever you may be.