I awoke this morning thinking of oh so many people that I am thankful for.  People who have shaped me by being directly and indirectly in my life. Some so close that I can’t ever imaging life without them, some on the periphery but like a spice to a great recipe, still would be missed if not included.

One day recently as I began my morning of brushing my teeth, I acknowledged to myself that I almost always think of a friend – even if it is ever so briefly – when I brush my teeth.  This stems from a story and laughs from when we shared a room at a retreat once.  I decided in that moment to go about my day and try to recognize when people would pop into my head.

Picking out clothes to put on brought on a slew of people. As I went through drawers and closet, I had visions of the people who gave a piece of clothing to me, shopped with me, was part of a trip where I purchased,  or the style, slogan or color just reminded me of someone.

Walking outside it the moonless near black sky and looking at the stars brought on more people of times shared under similar skies. (been leaving for work at O’dark thirty in the morning lately)

Tunes or discussions on the radio as I drove to work reminded me of people.

Deciding to have tea, coffee or just hot water when getting to work reminded me of all different people as I contemplated choices.

Calls from customers all day could bring up someone based upon their location, speech pattern, or their vocabulary and tone.

The walk in the park at lunch brought up so many people as the trees seemed to remind me of shared times both there and in similar surroundings.

A laugh in the grocery from someone several isles over had me smiling huge as laughing friends and family filled my psyche.

I looked out the window at work and saw the last leaf fall from the tree that resides in my view and thought of the book “The Fall of Freddie the Leaf” and the friend who had gifted the book to me over 40 years ago.

I passed an upright piano in the window of a store and thought of one of my great aunts.  I don’t know that I have but maybe one real memory of me being in the same space with her, but her memory is passed along in the stories from my Mother and other family members.

I saw someone along the road walking and it reminded me of a gentleman in our community that works at the local grocery and has turrets and how much I have learned of acceptance, perseverance and living your good life from just observing him over the years.  Someone whom I know so little of, but still has an impression upon me.

Every smell, taste, site and movement of my day brought up someone or a host of people.

Just thinking of food is enough to fill books of memories with people and the association, so you can be sure every meal that day was a thanksgiving meal filled with friends and family gathered in my heart instead of around my table.

People coming to mind happens to us all and is something we all do every day, but pausing to acknowledge the thoughts as they arose was not something I always do.  So if you are reading this, it means that you have been in my thoughts because you are in my life and it is good because of you.  Thank you for what you have added to my life.

If you are reading this and do not know me, you are also amazing because you are in the memories of someone else’s life and you allow them to pause when the moment strikes as they think of you.

Happy Thanksgiving. Love and Hugs

Sally