Dear Loyal Readers,
I sent this letter out to my private list of readers, friends and family yesterday. I’m eager to share it here, too.
Dear Friends, Family & Loyal Readers,
As I write this, I can smell the sweet wafts of an apple pie bubbling away in the oven and a turkey roasting in a bath of red wine, shallots, garlic and parsley. Last night, as Dan and I toasted a medley of bread ends for our stuffing, we had the windows open. Cold air smelling of the day’s early snow puffed into our hot kitchen and then, like a gift, we heard the brave honking of a flock of Canada geese. We looked at each other and smiled. “Listen,” said Dan. Then, suddenly, our eyes filled with tears; their simple, primal instinct to make a long journey through dark nights and dense cities, over mountains and fields, makes me know that courage is innate to all of us. I hope they get there.
For us, it will be a simple Thanksgiving this year; my mother is making her way to our place in Portland as I write this and and Dan’s mom will also join us. Five people will gather around the table and two of us (the two with four furry feet) will hover, undoubtedly, underfoot. And one of us is VERY excited about that apple pie in the oven!
Every year I’m grateful that we have a national holiday built around this notion of giving thanks–we don’t formally say “thank you” enough, it occurs to me. But this year, in particular, I’m especially grateful to all of you who have supported Dan and me and then my book, too (!) over the last two plus years. Your cheers have made the race worth running.
For a few laughs today, I thought I’d share this photo I found the other day of Dan and me three years ago–when things were still going swimmingly in LA and Master M. was still on the inside (I hope my belly doesn’t look quite like that after Thanksgiving dinner this year!)
I also wanted to share this video of Bruce Springsteen singing “This Land is Your Land.” There is so much to be proud of in this country, so much courage and spirit across our great land every day. I hope this song inspires you to love what is precious about our nation, and to believe that the seeds of change are sometimes just a song away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yuc4BI5NWU
And, finally, I heard this poem yesterday on The Writer’s Almanac. I can’t think of better words to describe the indescribably profound thanks we feel each day for the children who come into our lives and make us whole.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Caitlin.
For Anna Catherine on Thanksgiving
by Samuel Hazo
The first girl in generations,
you came when the century clicked
from nines to zeroes to plus one.
Capped on a pallet, you flexed
your toes and let us count
your fingernails.
We studied you
as our particular event,
our small surprise, our bonus.
Months earlier, I prayed
that you’d be born intact
and healthy, and you were.
Today I wish you beauty, grace,
intelligence—the commonplace
grandfatherly clichés….
What
makes us crave for those
we love such bounties of perfection?
Life, just life, is never
miracle enough no matter
how we try to church ourselves….
Squirming in my arms, you save me
from my tyranny of dreams
with nothing but your version of a kiss
and the sure, blind love of innocence.