Here’s what Thanksgiving means to me ~
No shopping for anything but dinner ingredients. No lists of gifts. Bags of food being filled for the Food Banks. Volunteers serving turkey dinners at homeless shelters. Quality time spent as families and friends gather to share memories, love and laughter.
But this year, the disaster that 2020 is for everyone around the world, our Thanksgiving celebrations will look quite different. We have to spend time with those in our immediate bubble, wear masks outside our home and practise distancing. Let’s hope that next year at this time we will be able to go back to beloved traditions.
In spite of everything, I hope an attitude of gratitude can prevail. I am so thankful for the life I have. I hope you feel the same about yours.
As we consider our individual blessings, let’s remember those who struggle with hunger, illness, poverty, war and a multitude of other challenges in our own backyards and around the globe. The pandemic crisis is heartbreaking. Let’s try to make the sentiments of Thanksgiving a part of every single day. I know we are all grateful for the sacrifices made by essential workers every day.
What a good feeling to see the food donation bins overflowing today. If you can’t get out to help, here’s a way you can play a part without leaving home! Click right here.
I’ve written about these sites before, but they are always worth mentioning from time to time. All you have to do is go to TheHungerSite.com once a day and click on the button — sponsors give free food. You are not put on any list or bombarded with spam. There are other links to click where sponsors donate for appropriate benefits: Breast Cancer ~ remember it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; Child Health; Literacy; Rainforest; Animal Rescue and a few others. All of this has been verified as legit by Snopes years ago. I pop in every day. Why not?
While we are at it, have you ever played FREERICE.COM? ~ This is a unique way to increase your vocabulary and donate rice to needy countries. Play it with your children as there are 60 levels. It’s a great place to learn new words for Words With Friends … ahem, my addiction when I need a few minutes off from writing. It’s such a fun way to keep connected with friends too.
One big personal thank you to the readers who take the time to contact me. I love hearing from you and appreciate every single message. Thanks for subscribing to my newsletter and for sharing my books with your friends. You light up my life!
Having a giveaway during the Thanksgiving holiday is always a good idea! If you haven’t read the Love in Provence trilogy, all three ebooks are on sale this month. If you already have yours, pick up some copies for gifts for friends. When you go to purchase them on Amazon there will directions how to do this. It’s easy and a great way to take care of some gift giving. Click on this for the Amazon link.
A retired family therapist, CAROLE BUMPUS began writing about food and travel when she stumbled upon the amazing stories of women and war in France. She has traveled extensively throughout France and Italy, where she has interviewed more than seventy-five families to date for her food and travel blogs. She published an historical novel, A Cup of Redemption, in 2014, and her unique companion cookbook, Recipes for Redemption: A Companion Cookbook to A Cup of Redemption, in August 2015. She is an active member in The California Writers Club and The Women’s National Book Association. Bumpus lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she teaches classes on writing, does public speaking, and continues to write about women, food, and war. Visit her website at 
