Happy Thanksgiving

The red and yellow leaves are almost gone

The nights turn chilly

The heat is on

The season is about to change guards

The angels keep watch

At all times

No matter where time has marched

When bushes are green and lush

When colors of blossoms are displayed

When leaves are scattered on the paths

Or when bare branches are white with snow

Blessings rain down

Blessings to catch and to spread around

I want to say thank you

For entertaining angels without knowing it

For giving glimmers of hope in dark despairs

For the compassionate hearts you share

For the tears of sorrow and the laughter of joy

Humanity

Is a gift

I want to say a prayer of gratitude

For life’s abundance and goodness

Happy Thanksgiving

To all

Free Gifts

So the cynics in you say there is no such thing as a free lunch. I beg to differ. My sweetheart and I enjoyed something free yesterday. And in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude to the gifts that are free to all of us.

As I called the box office of a theater in Winchester, situated at least one hour away from home, for tickets to a matinee event, the lady asked if I’d like to have some free activities thrown in as a promotion for the weekend before Thanksgiving. As one who never wants to turn down anything free, for I am my mother’s daughter, I said yes. All we had to do was to leave earlier than planned to get to the event on time, and take a detour. So we left early and took the detour. Yes, the detour cost us some time and gas money, but once we were at our destination, everything was free. It’s not like taking a cruise when you want to book an excursion, you’ll pay extra. It’s not like flying on an airplane when you want to have a meal, you’ll pay extra. It’s not like ordering a hibachi meal when you want fried rice, you’ll pay extra. It’s like enjoying God-given treasures in their pure forms, no alterations or additions needed. Although where we were, trails were cleared, bridges were built, and signs were erected to help us appreciate things more.

We were in the Elizabeth Furnace area of the Shenandoah Valley in the George Washington National Forest. We walked across the bridge to the Historic Cabin area. We took a trail that went alongside the Passage Creek and found fishermen deep in the water to their waist. We walked the Pig Iron Trail for a short while. I marveled at the things that are truly free for us to enjoy. The changes of seasons. The seasons. The cool air. The blue sky. The clear creek water. The dry leaves on the ground. The red leaves on the branches. The rocks on the path. The view. The experience.

At the end of the day, after a satisfying lunch and a good performance, as we drove home, the sky opened up to the beautiful orange color of sunset. My sweetheart drove. I closed my eyes and dozed. It was a blessing. When I woke, I silently gave thanks to the free gifts in life.

Collage #25

This is the first collage of Nhỏ Con Rồng and Thiên Thần Tuyệt Đẹp, aka Drakeson and Millicent. I want to share with you why I have such long “nicknames” for you, if I can call them nicknames.

Nhỏ Con Rồng: Before you were born, your father researched the Vietnamese words for “little dragon” because you’d be born in the year of the dragon. He found “con rồng” for “dragon” and “nhỏ” for “little.” He put the two together as “nhỏ con rồng.” But he did it the backward way, the way Americans link their adjectives and nouns, as it should be “con rồng nhỏ.” But I liked it and I liked the fact that he wanted to learn the culture and language of my native country, so “Nhỏ Con Rồng” is what I call you.

Thiên Thần Tuyệt Đẹp: Moments after you were born, cậu Thal asked for your name and your father texted back “TBD” because your parents had not decided on your name. Later, I forgot that it was “TBD” he wrote for To Be Determined, I thought it was “TBA” for To Be Announced. I don’t even know if TBA is commonly used or if I had made it up. But it doesn’t matter now. When I thought he said “TBA,” I decided it should be The Beautiful Angel which means “Thiên Thần Tuyệt Đẹp” in Vietnamese.

I came to see you the second half of October. It was a very busy time for you all. Lots of happenings and lots of out-of-town visitors. It was an exciting time, for you and for me. You had a party with a piano recital. Nhỏ Con Rồng, you met many of your maternal relatives for the first time. Thiên Thần Tuyệt Dep, you made your appearance 17 days after the piano recital and brought joy to many and so, you share the same birth month with Ông. You all celebrated Halloween together in the Castle Grayskull before the month came to a close.

It is with pleasure that I present you with Collage #25. It should be combined with Collage #24 to tell the full October story, for the recital was then. But Collage #25 is the climax of the year and I am so glad I was part of it. Although I was not at the recital, I contributed to the Baby Book your mama made for you, Thiên Thần Tuyệt Đẹp. I hope someday you’ll read it with pleasure and know you’re loved beyond imagination. And Nhỏ Con Rồng, you are still the cutest boy of the 21^st century. You’re also loved ∞ + 1.