Gratitude

Seventy-One Winters

52 Comments

Carol A. Hand

Grateful for greeting
my seventy-first winter
on an almost silent snowed-in morning
amazed that I can still shovel snow
day after day after day
and remain grateful
for a simple life with so many blessings

*

Christmas 2017
for the daughter who takes time
from busy days to call just to talk
for the handsome hard-working grandson
who is kind and thoughtful
and remembers to send his love
for the granddaughter
whose presence lights up a room
for work to do that helps me stay engaged
and feel that what I have learned
can be of value to others
for friends who are here in times of need
and for the ancestors and wise beings
who have visited me in dreams and visions
helping me return and remain true
to the humble purpose for which I was born
seventy-one years ago

*

52 thoughts on “Seventy-One Winters”

  4. Beautiful post ❤ Congratulations! I hope i am still able to shovel snow in years to come. However, as we dont have snow here, i am hoping i will be able to still shovel and rake over the dirt in my veggie garden instead 😆

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    1. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments, Mel. It will be some time yet before I will be able to clean out gardens here, but I, too, look forward to the opportunity. Sending my best wishes to you. ❤

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  6. Dear Carol,

    I’ve been reading, enjoying and appreciating what you write, even though I haven’t stopped by to comment for a long time. I’ve been “too busy” spending my time doing other things that seem important and that might even be valuable to others and perhaps even to the world. It’s hard to tell, really, though, except that I know I have at least a few people who seem to appreciate what I post on Facebook and beneath some articles on news sites. And then there is, of course, the work I’m doing to try to keep earning a few dollars to help meet the needs of Life that can be met with money.

    But, reading what you posted here, now, I couldn’t help but come by to comment that I’ve just greeted my 70th Winter – well, back in early January – and that I’m still shoveling snow and enjoying doing it. I’m actually not amazed that I’m still shoveling snow and enjoying it, that’s simply the way Life is for me. We heat only with firewood and I enjoy scrounging up my own. The past few years that has mostly meant getting wood that has been cleared to build new roads and building sites and then hauled to large piles where it gets burned during the Winter. I salvage what I can, which involves cutting it with a chainsaw, and hauling it home where I split what needs splitting with my hydraulic splitter, and then stacking it in my woodshed.

    The snow shoveling, the work on firewood and other physical activities in the yard and garden or elsewhere I simply consider to be the major part of my physical fitness program, and it seems to be working pretty well for me. I have had one stroke, eleven years ago, and one heart attack one year ago, yet i’m still here and still going strong.

    Our daughter and her son, our grandson, live with us, so they are daily blessings in our Life in many ways, including by helping care for my wife who has severe dementia. And we have some friends who provide help in various ways that help make Life work, because we all get along better with a little help from our friends as we whirl around the Sun together from one Winter to the next – 70 here and counting . . .

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    1. Thank you so much for taking time to visit and share your experiences, dear Cakmn. It’s always good to hear from you. You certainly have a lot of hard work to keep you busy and healthy. I am sorry to hear about your wife and send my best wishes to you and your family. ❤

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    1. Dear Susan, it is such a delight to hear from you. I miss your always thoughtful, beautiful posts, and I am deeply grateful for your kind words. Sending you lots of love, too. ❤

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  11. Such a beautiful way to celebrate your birthday and see all the amazing blessings you have in your life…the best of life cannot really be bought or negotiated and you have the best of it all: a family who honours and love you and the health and strength to keep doing great work…not surprised that your birthday is the same as my BF who lives in Spain and with whom I share a 30+ years friendship!
    As the quote says: “May you live every day of your life!”

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words, Tubularsock. You know you’re right. Shoveling is certainly healthy exercise, and tomorrow, if weather predictions hold true, I’ll have yet another opportunity. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. Raj, hearing from you is always a gift. Thank you so much for your lovely comments and blessings. I apologize for my belated reply. If I remember correctly, your birthday is sometime in February, too. I wish you many more happy seasons, as well. ❤

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