2024 was a challenging year in so many ways. But I prefer to focus on the positive. To focus on hope. After all, I am a self-professed Pollyanna. 😉

With credit to my friend, Anne Wayman, who started this tradition of a Thanksgiving list, it’s time again for thanks. Feel free to add your own Thanksgiving list in Comments. You don’t have to live in the U.S. to share this tradition.

Thanks Again

My friend Anne’s list ran 100+ items long. I’ve never hit a list that long. Not because I’m not blessed, I simply run out of steam. 🙂 So, let’s see what we have for 2024.

#1 – Family

Family is everything. I am thankful for biological family and my acquired family.

Mom – At 101, each day is appreciated.I know what a blessing it is to have my mom still with me. I love you, Mumsy!

Siblings – If you follow me, you know I am the middle child of seven. So, I am blessed 6 times over through my four brothers and two sisters. We are spread across this country from the Oregon Coast to Florida and several sprinkled in the middle. 😉

Extended family – I am also blessed with bunches of cousins, nieces, nephews, and all their children and grandchildren. You know you are getting older when the children of your nieces and nephews are having babies. I have to admit that is one of the benefits of Facebook – seeing the photos of our constantly growing family.

The pinch-hitters – A special shout-out to my brother, Martin, and my cousin, Cindy, who took care of Mom while I took part in my 21st 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk for the Cure. Love you more!

Penny – Penny was our gift to my mom for her 95th birthday. This four-legged bundle of joy is a blessing to both Mom and me. She brings us so many smiles.

#3 – Acquired Family

There are all kinds of family – not all biological. I am blessed many times over with the friends who have become my special family.

My Pink Tahoe Ladies Teammates – I have shared stories about how these wonderful ladies walked into my life, starting in 2003 when Penny (the human one) 😉 invited me to join their small “team” of walkers at my 1st 3-Day Walk. Penny has hung in with this Old Lady Walking as we have been the only two walking the last several years.

The Pink Bubble – That is the name given to the participants of the 3-Day Walk. They consist of walkers, crew, volunteers, and Susan G. Komen coaches/staff.

The Pink Bubble is a magical place, and no one exemplifies it more than my longtime friend, Benny. We crewed together in 2004 and Benny is still crewing today – she has done 38 3-Day Walks! AND she still sleeps in the pink tents at camp. On the ground. In the freezing ocean air at night! I love you, Benny!

My Contributors to my annual 3-Day Walks humble me. Year after year their generous donations help keep this Old Lady Walking. Thank you, thank, you, thank you.

Friends Over the Years – I’ll refrain from referring to some of my friends as old but when you’ve known each other for 20 – 40 years AND I am definitely old…well, if the shoe fits. 😀

• Linda who I’ve known for over 40 years and who I stay with every year I go back to my old home of San Diego. Love you B-P!
• Judi with an ‘i’ who was Linda’s and my boss so very long ago. She has always been a mentor and someone I admire. I am very blessed to call her friend. Love you, Judi!
• Marina who is someone I really admire and cherish. If only I could be as kind and caring – and as patient (!) as Marina, I would be a much better person. Love you, Marina.
• Oriana is another of those “old” friends (sorry, Oriana) who I cherish. I am so blessed and thankful that she makes sure our friendship never withers. Love you a bunch, my friend.
• Vicky, my old roommate (there’s that word again) 😀 and my sister by another mother. I love you to the moon and back.
• All my Pru buddies who I still stay in touch with today. Shows what a special bunch of people we had back in the day.
• The friends I’ve never met except through the online world. I am especially thankful to Devon whose Writers Forum is a lifeline for me and keeps me connected to the special people who are my writer friends and so much more – like Lori and Paula.
  
  And so many more special people I’ve never met but who hold a special place in my heart like Sharon, Maryann, Nicky, Nikki, Ashley, Henneke, Marcie, Mitch, Sue-Ann. I know I am missing some. But that’s my forgetful boomer brain and not my heart where you all reside. Thank you.

#4 – All Things Notre Dame

As someone who has Notre Dame infused in my veins (my mom’s brother was a graduate and the football team manager under Coach Leahy), I am thankful for all the wonderful memories and all the ones to come. Even if we have to put up with the losses. I am so grateful for the love of Notre Dame.

And a special shout-out to the Notre Dame Legion of the Leprechaun group that keeps it classy and supportive of our beloved Notre Dame.

#5 – Simple Pleasures

Life is full of pleasures and sometimes it’s the simple pleasures that sustain us.

Thanksgiving celebrators who don’t forget that there is this special holiday BEFORE Christmas and all the other December holiday celebrations.

My daily walks are my mental and physical blessing that reaffirm all that is right in the world.

My box calendars like the Peanuts gang and Maxine that bring me daily smiles. And who doesn’t need smiles?

Socks, glorious socks that wrap my poor old feet in comfort, no matter how much I abuse my feet.

Epsom salt that make it possible for me to keep abusing my old, tired feet and their calluses. 😉

Good customer service that is so difficult to find and so appreciated when you do.

The two neighborhood girls who were a godsend when we needed our grass cut and leaves raked. Thank you for all your hard work and positive attitude.

Mary and Rich who have such kind hearts and souls to bring the best kind of support from Mom’s church.

Well, this Old Lady is running out of steam, although I barely scraped the surface. Thank you all for joining me on the thankful journey. To my U.S. friends, Happy Thanksgiving. Please stay safe and well. To ALL my friends (here and internationally), also stay safe and well.