Before sunup, just after first light, I walked to the water to share the dawn of this Thanksgiving Day with the mighty Lake Superior. Waves broke on the beach, a insistent wind blew lake smoke off the water. The North Wind effectively dropped the 0° temperature to a chilling -17° around me. I wore a long winter coat, wool lined leather winter mittens and winter hat cinched tightly about my ears as this coldest Thanksgiving Day in three decades began.

The billows of lake smoke delayed the sun’s appearance until well after the calculated moment of sunrise. As I waited, I thought of the many things for which I am thankful and the many gifts of these 70+ years.

Finally, I saw the sun, discovered that the last sips of coffee in my insulated mug had frozen and went home to bake a wild blueberry pie from a harvest gathered in a warmer month. My contribution to the celebration of these many wonderful blessings.