Thanksgiving

It's that time of year again where we take inventory of our lives and give thanks for the things we do have instead of complaining about the things we don't have. This year has been a particularly hard year for many, financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually, but yet we survive to continue on. The fact that I have survived another year is enough for me to be thankful. Other things I am thankful for are as follows:

• My Family: I love my family, and am closer to them than anyone else. I am thankful for their returned love, and continued support.


• My Health: Although I'm not in the greatest of health, I am thankful that I don't have the health problems that others have, and that I am able to function without much problem.


• My Friends: This includes those friends, old and new, that I know in person, and those I only know by name via various clubs, online games, blogs, etc. Though we don't always agree on a lot of things, you're still my friends, and still very much a part of me.


• My pets: Especially my Best Bud in the world, Dalamar (Poopins), and the two "junior buds", Raistlin and Frito (Beezer-bud). It is those times I'm feeling my lowest that these three are stuck to me like glue (moreso than normal. They are gifts, and ones that I am eternally grateful for.


• My Education: I am thankful for the chance to further my education and make something of myself. Also, I am thankful for the greatest teachers that anyone could ask for, and the pleasant smiles of Patti, the receptionist, that always make my day.


• Food, shelter, clothing, and the other essentials: This is a given. There are so many right now that have so much less.

Thank You, God, for giving me all these things, and thank You for being there for me, even when I am not there for You.

New Header

This is just a brief post to point out the new header. I got tired of looking at just plain text, and in my boredom at school yesterday, I did some photoshopping work, and wa'la. The only problem was that I didn't have the cutout of Llaihr (my DK) available yesterday, because some overzealous computer lab monitor deleted more than user profiles last week, so most of my saved work (at school) was gone. So I went home and got a couple of good pictures, and re-did it today. :) I am satisfied with it now. :)

Do You Believe?

As Christmas approaches, I hear the same question that is asked of people every year- "Do you believe in Santa Claus?" This elicits a variety of responses from different people. Some say, "Santa Claus is just a myth, a fairy tale, made up to make children behave." (is he a benevolent boogy man that will give you coal instead of nice gifts if you are bad?) Other people claim that Santa Claus is the quintessential "spirit" of the season, and he is real in the hearts of those who believe. Then there are the true 'children' at heart who hold onto the hope that the "jolly old elf" is in fact a real live being.

Until recently, I held to the second theory, that Santa Claus is the spirit of giving, and lives in and through me. Then again, I'm the eternal optimist when it comes to hoping for and believing in good things. Every Christmas, I concerned myself with making others happy, especially those less fortunate than myself, even if I didn't have much to give. I don't care much for receiving gifts, and meager Christmas holidays are still happy, knowing that I made someone else's Christmas happy.

Just recently, I was doing my grocery shopping at WalMart, and I found myself thinking about the upcoming season, thinking about what resources I had to buy gifts for those few close to me, and browsing through the DVD section for ideas, when I turned caught a slight movement out of the corner of my eye. I glanced in the general direction, and nearly did a double-take, for standing not 15 feet away was an elderly gentleman with full white beard and dressed in red. (no, it wasn't a Santa suit, but Red Jacket, and dark red slacks.) He noticed my glance and nodded in my general direction, which I acknowledged in return before returning to my browsing. About five minutes later, after I had my general list ("Gone With the Wind" for my 'Mooey', the New Star Trek movie for both my friend Lisa and my Dad, and a season of Buffy for someone else, plus a few other ideas for others) and I turned to leave, and nearly bumped into the elderly gentleman. I looked at him and apologized, and he, despite it not being quite Thanksgiving, smiled, winked, and wished me a Merry Christmas before turning back to his own shopping. So now, I am left with the question, was it REALLY Santa Claus, or was it just a friendly older gent, who had already gotten into the spirit of the Christmas Season? You may say it was the latter, but the eternal child and optimist in me believes that it was the REAL Santa Claus (especially since I didn't see him there or anywhere else in the store afterwards).