November 24, 2025joynealkidney

I’m thankful for. . .

[Written in 1996]

I’m Thankful For. . . 

Neighbors, garage-door openers, libraries, bur oak trees, veterans, cardinals, red barns, lilacs, snow, home grown tomatoes, warm soup in the winter, sunsets, University of Iowa and Iowa State University basketball on TV. . .

The Stars and Stripes. . . 

Farmers, cornfield–at any stage, church steeples, windmills Robert Waller’s Roadcat essay, lima beans, the book store Mecca in Des Moines’ western suburbs–Half Price Books, Borders, Barnes & Noble, the sound of old John Deere tractors. . .

Slabs of french toast at the Machine Shed, quilts, fog, solitude, my high school English teacher [Lucille Knapp], breakfast out, breakfast in bed, biographies, C.S. Lewis, “Victoria” magazine, zinnias, a cappella choirs, peonies, the smell and taste of sauteed onions, globes, colored bottles, heirlooms with stories, Legos, flag stamps. . .

Hot blackberry tea. . . 

Pizza at Noah’s Ark–the first place I ever tasted it, meteor showers, A. A. Milne, the full moon, violets, dishwashers, Iowa’s Octobers, squirrels, volunteers, popcorn, old family photographs, Mom’s potato salad, a thank you note from my son, a friend egg sandwich, hearty laughter, Paul Berge’s Artie Azzetti stories on Rejection Slip Theater. . .

Madeleine L’Engle’s books, local newspapers, backyard birds, aunts, uncles, and cousins, tearooms, the honeyed red of garnets, Iowa’s classic courthouses, e-mail. . .

The legacy of good-natured grandmothers, old friends, Bach, the growl of a pipe organ, mentors (thanks C.E. Charles), stained glass windows, bird feeders, a husband who loves to mow the lawn, “Reader’s Digest,” porches. . .

Walking in dry leaves. . . 

The Iowa State Fair, clouds, fireplaces, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, herbs–especially sage, thyme and basil, maps, wicker chairs, bread and gravy. . .

Fresh Aire V, encyclopedias, lemon anything, baritone horns, Coke classic, Wendy’s chili, letters, old letters, electricity, country roads, WHO radio’s news and weather on the hour, Larry Stone’s essays and pictures in the [Des Moines] “Register”. . .

Snowmen. . . 

And the Menlo resident along the highway [White Pole Road] who greets December by transforming that big white pig into Rudolph pulling a sleigh.

[Published November 27, 1996, Greater Metropolitan News West/Southwest]

This was written five years before fibromyalgia set in. These days I’d certainly include modern medicine (which has offered no relief for fibromyalgia, but it certainly has for Crohn’s) and God’s grace and blessings through it all!

—–

Decades later, Paul Berge became the narrator for Leora’s Letters. His Artie Azzetti stories are published now as Artie Azzetti and Me.

I’d hoped to find a photo of the Rudolph pig but haven’t had any luck. Locals believe it once belonged to Menlo Farm Supply but some thought it was in someone’s front yard. It was certainly memorable.

I just noticed that today Sally Cronin is sharing Luanne Castle’s review of Meadowlark Songs on her Smorgasbord Christmas Book Book Fair 2025. I’m so blessed and humbled by this. I’m thankful for readers and authors who share other writers’ books and blog posts!

41 comments

    • Thanks, Pete! To you and your family as well. Our kids are moving this week (a different house in St. Paul, after hunting for several years) so it’ll be just us.

      Reply

    • Thank you, Nancy. To your family as well. Ours will be a quiet one since our “kids” found a house finally and are moving this week–four hours away. But we’re so thankful that Favorite Guy’s blood disorder checkup said that the chemo drugs are keeping things level. We celebrated with tune-ups at the chiropractor! ha

      Reply

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