THANKSGIVING.

So it’s a long weekend in Canada. It’s the Thanksgiving weekend – a time to give thanks for all the good things we have – but don’t always appreciate! While Thanksgiving did not become an “official statutory holiday in Canada until 1957,” the history of Thanksgiving in Canada dates back to 1578 – when Martin Frobisher from England arrived WAY up North in Canada – even before the pilgrims arrived in America. I wonder if he brought a dog with him? Anyway Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday in 1879 and at that time was celebrated in either October or November. In 1957, the second Monday in October became the official holiday – and it marked a time to give thanks for the harvest. Canada’s Thanksgiving is before the US – partly because our harvest is earlier.

So here in Canada, like the US, humans fill themselves with turkey or ham, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing and pumpkin pie. That’s the short list. And we canines sit waiting nearby – HOPING that there will be SOME leftovers that are safe for us. Like carrots.

In the US, this weekend is Columbus Day weekend – marking Columbus’ “discovery” of America. Actually, now some states are calling it Indigenous People’s Day – recognizing that Columbus WASN’T the first guy in America. Good point!

Other countries also celebrate a day of Thanksgiving at different times on the calendar– including Grenada, Liberia, Saint Lucia, the UK, Germany and Japan. I’m sure there are others.

So Thanksgiving is day to reflect on what we have – the MANY things we SHOULD be thankful for. I actually looked back to my blog from last year – and many of the things I was thankful for then, still apply. Here are some of those, and some new things as well:

·       My food bowl. Especially when it is full.

·       The treat jar. For obvious reasons.

·       Bananas. Carrots. Sweet potatoes. But not lettuce.

·       My water bowl. Drinking out of puddles is fine – but clean water IS better.

·       The guilt gifts we receive when my human is away on a holiday or for
        work.

·       The lovely collars our human buys for us. It doesn’t matter that you can’t
        see them with all of our hair – they are still very nice!

·       Car rides – except when we are going to the vet.

·       Doorbells – which alert us to a new victim for our bad-mannered jumping.

·       Barettes. And elastics (or rubber bands). To keep our hair out of our eyes!
·       Our house! Because it beats living outdoors! Especially in the rain.

·       Our human’s bed. Which we TECHNICALLY are not allowed on – but
where we sneak many nights…
·       Belly rubs and ear scratches.

·       Retrieving toys. To bring back again and again and again and….

·       Rabbits. And squirrels. And cats. To chase.

·       The ability to bark. To warn of an intruder (like those foxes), to request
        treat – or simply to welcome the dawn of a new day!

·       Sunny days. To play outside.

·       Snowy days. To play outside.

·       Snow plow operators. We are thankful for you. But hope we never see
        you this winter.

·       Windy days. To smell good things. And to play outside.

·       Weather forecast people. Because you show us that “being right” is not a
necessity in life.

·       Raincoats. Although we PRETEND we don’t like them, they DO keep us
dry!
·       Family and friends! Who are always THERE for you – through thick and
        thin – and even porcupine quills!

·       Frodo and Paxton. Who tolerate my licking, barking and biting – especially
when we run outside. Or downstairs. Or at night. Or in the morning. Or…

·       Dog people! Who share stories, support one another, provide great advice
and understand what it is like to be in this weird cult where you are owned
by a dog!
·       All of those people who have supported me with my very first book!

·       The colorful leaves in the fall. Which go flying every which way when I am
retrieving my toys.

·       The morning – when the alarm goes off and we happily welcome a new
day!

·       The stars when we go out at night for our last pee before bed.

·       That moment when we hear our human’s car coming home…

·       My human…

·       And finally… those who take the time to read my crazy BLOG! I’m not sure
how long I’ll keep this going – but I am thankful I was able to do it for a
year!

Happy Thanksgiving – no matter WHERE you live! HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

THANKSGIVING.

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