Thanksgiving 2006

Today, we celebrate Thanksgiving in the US. If we really thought about it, there will be lots to be thankful for. I told a guy yesterday that everyday is like thanksgiving for me. I was taught since I was little that you give thanks the minute you open your eyes in the morning.
I am at work today. No, I did not get the day off but it's so slow here and everyone is in such a good mood that I like being here. I must admit that I could not wake up this morning though. The house was too cold and the bed was too comfortable. In the end, my dad came and asked me if I didn't need to work. It was only then that I figured that I should get up. Waking up was something to be thankful for. Really, I was sitting on the bed wondering how cold the floor would be when I do my Surya Namaskars. Turns out, it was icy cold but I completed four pairs. If I wasn't so paranoid about carpet mites, I would have suggested that we carpet the rooms but I will rather take my chances with the cold.
My boss wanted me to come to work at 6am. Six was when I got off the bed! I got to work a few minutes shy of seven. Not that I did it on purpose but I knew that no one would be there at 6am except for a really haunted person. A conversation in the car.....
Lail (that's what i call my dad): "What time yuh have to work for today?" He's asking because he knows that I am too late for it to be six and too early for seven.
Me: "Six...he he he he he" I laugh.
Lail: "hmmm. Who go be dey at six on ah holiday?"
Me: "dat's what i say. J- and S- done know dat i wasnt coming dey anytime before seven! J- have to be half-way crazy if he really think i was goin dey for 6." My dad is humored.
My aunt invited us over to her house tonight. It's my dad's sister but my mom is the one who's insisting that we should go. She tells us that we have to go because we have always been going since we came to the US and it will "look bad" since they come to everything we have at our house. In addition, my aunt and her husband haven't been enjoying the best of health so my mom thinks we must, absolutely have to go. Mind you, that doesn't stop my mom from cooking a full course meal at our house. It doesn't bother me though. Anything my mom cooks tastes well. So I am thankful for that too.... My mom and her cooking.

Today, for those of us who celebrate it, it is Sathya Sai Baba's birthday. We celebrate his birthday. He is one of the great souls. In Trinidad, we grew up attending his Satsanghs but I realized, to my dismay, that the organization was filled with hypocrites and people claiming to propagate Baba's message when they themselves did not follow his teachings. After some time, we withdrew from the organization. I wrestled with the whole idea for a while and then came upon the conclusion that Baba could not be blamed for the people who led the organizations. His message is a very good one and it holds respect for every other religion. I celebrate his life today as well.
I just told a customer that we were having soy chicken today and he said, "you gotta be kiddin me!" It's actually really good. He had a good laugh. I did too. I guess it's funny when you think about it but it's food anyway and I'm giving thanks for that too! Happy Thanksgiving!