As we come into this time of year when gratitude is everything, we try not to be too materialistic. Nonetheless, I think for each of you Wickeds, something came into your life this year for which you are grateful.
I always think about Mary Chapin Carpenter singing in Passionate Kisses,
“Pens that won’t run out of ink
And cool quiet and time to think
Shouldn’t I have this?”
I think it is the writers’ anthem.
Anyway Wickeds, what object came into your life this year that you are profoundly grateful for?
Edith/Maddie: I love that song, Barb. This object has nothing to do with my writing life, except when I’m devising recipes for books or for my twice-monthly Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen blog posts. I recently acquired a new version of my mini-food-processor, a little machine that holds about two cups. I’ve had one for many years, but the motor was grinding, the labels had worn off, and then the lid broke, a lid that has to click in or the machine won’t run. I adore this shiny new red edition, in which I blend up pesto, grind nuts, and make my morning banana-blueberry smoothie, among many other uses.
Liz: My new apartment, hands down. I’m so grateful to be here, near friends and the ocean. It makes me super happy.
Julie: Edith, I love that red! And there does come a point when appliances need to be replaced. And Liz, I’m so glad you’re closer, and that you have your view.
When I thought about what thing I’m grateful for, my mind went all over the place. My sisters and I are clearing out our parents’ house, and I’ve got a few pieces of furniture and some knick knacks that have come to me that make me happy. It would be hard to choose one, but if I had to I’d choose the oak dresser that used to be my grandmother’s, and that my mother used for hats and scarves and seasonal things. I put it next to the window and filled it with my yarn and needlework. Seeing it, and knowing how pleased my grandmother would be that I still practiced the crafts she taught me, and how happy my mother is when I tell her that my cats like to lounge on top and look out the window–that makes it my favorite thing.
Jessie: Julie, I got a little choked up reading your bit! Mine is an espresso maker. My husband stopped drinking caffeine several years ago and we stopped having coffee together because I continued to enjoy my daily jolts. For a variety of reasons we decided to carve out a hot beverage station in our kitchen and we added the machine. Because we make individual cups, and because he loves gadgets, my husband decided to give decaf espresso a try. Now we are enjoying coffee breaks together a couple of times each day. The machine makes great coffee, but it makes even better memories and daily points of connection.
Barb: Jessie, your story about enticing your husband with a gadget puts me in mind of our new thing in 2022, our fully electric car. My husband, Bill, lived his whole life in Massachusetts prior to our move full-time to Maine five years ago. He is that demon on the roads called a Massachusetts driver. For those of you from farther away who don’t know, it means he drives very fast, and with reckless abandon. (If he were writing this, he would tell you what a wonderful driver he is. Never had an accident. Which is true.) He had a big birthday this year, and I mentioned, with trepidation, that his reflexes probably weren’t what they once were and maybe he should slow down. This was met with exactly the response you would expect. However, once the electric car came into our lives, keeping the battery use to a minimum as reflected on the little slide bar on the display behind the steering wheel became a game and he slowed way down. I was reminded once again that you can get some people to do anything by giving them a gadget or a game. Anyway, lo-o-ong way of saying the new thing that came into our lives this year that I am really enjoying is our car.
Sherry: It’s hard to imagine Bill driving anyway other than fast–what is that Massachusetts philosophy — always get ahead of the next car? I love my laptop. It’s lightweight, fast, and portable. I’m always looking things up on it.
Readers: What is new thing came into your life this year for which you are thankful ?
That I was finally able to go to Hawaii after having it on my wish list for 40 years. We did the cruise and got to see 4 of the islands. Loved the Big Island. I didn’t care for the long flight though to get there.
I have never been and that sounds like a marvelous way to go.
This year has been filled with many wonderful blessings, but gadgets? I fear 2023 will be the year of the gadgets/appliances for me. My range is down to only two functioning burners and the light on the range hood has shorted out. One new gadget I am thankful for is my new desktop computer. I loved my old one but it died this past year. The new one is fast and efficient and gave me only minor headaches when setting it up.
I am in desperate need of a new work laptop, Annette, but am dragging my feet because of the setup time! I keep telling myself I’ll buy it after I turn in my book on December 1!
Edith, the problem comes when they die when you’re on deadline! I have two–my desktop and a laptop. Thankfully, I never missed a minute of writing time when the PC died because I simply switched over to the laptop.
2022 was our year of appliances. At one point the dryer, dishwasher and disposal were all not functioning. We knew when we bought this house everything would go around now, but we didn’t know it would all happen at once!
Yoga! I’d taken classes years ago, but had replaced it with zumba classes until those ended earlier this year. Now I’m loving yoga!
Yay for yoga!
For a dog lover who said he’d never have a cat, I’m thankful for a little tabby named Rusty. He adds an unexpected dimension to our lives, daily enrichment beyond words.
That is lovely.
I don’t have a THING that I’m thankful for. Rather this year, I find that I’m thankful for some people. Not NEW people but people who have already been in my life previously but stepped up when I needed help the most.
I’ve been dealing with some serious back issues for more than a month now. At the beginning I was pretty much confined to the floor of my living room. Barely able to stand, I couldn’t do much of anything for myself. My sister Maggie, my best friend Ann and family friend Maryellen all helped me in various ways so I could eat, have my medicines and just make it through the worst parts of the seemingly endless pain.
Heck, I even got a get-well card from Edith Maxwell, which believe me brightened my day.
I’m back on my feet but not close to being back to healthy. Even being able to be back to work, I’m under light duty restrictions. While I’m the kind of patient who will do the stuff required to get better (I’m currently doing PT), I’m also the kind of patient who gets easily frustrated by the seeming lack of progress. I mean who wants to be walking with a cane?
But all that kvetching aside, I’m extremely thankful for the people who have helped me out during this time when I’m physically limited.
You are lucky to have people like that in your life. I’m doing PT now, too. (For my knee.) There are days…but then there are other days.
A new camera – for which I’m very thankful for and love. Not idea how exactly, but my old camera just stopped working completely. Thankfully it was insured. Since it was an older model and no longer available, I was able to take the insurance money and get a lot better camera. Now I can capture clearer photos at greater distances. It was a time that went from despair to elation.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
The silver lining…
Once again, I’m grateful to have the vacation home in the Laurel Highlands we’ve wanted. Now if only circumstances would come together to allow me to spend some time there.
I hope you get there, too!
I love this thread! I love the image of Bill as a Masshole driver tearing around the back roads of Maine in his electric car. I have so much to be grateful for, but I guess I’d pick my book being out in the world. It’s brought me so much joy to share the story, and has ushered me into a writers’ world I never thought I’d be able to join. Connected to that, I’m grateful for all the helping hands and generous spirits (including Barb’s!) who lifted me up along the way.
That is so lovely, Elisa, a true rite of passage.
Masshole? I lived in Boston for 18 years and never heard that term. Love it, and yes, it describes the drivers perfectly. Glad I no longer have to live with the crazy drivers.
I’m not materialistic at all, but I’m already in love with the chairlift I had installed yesterday. Why? Because it means my hubby can come home from rehab after his surgery and be able to fully use our home, safely. He should be home next week! Six weeks without my sweetie is way too long.
What a perfect Thanksgiving present!
What a wonderful post! For me, it’s my dishwasher. My old one died years ago. It’s one of those apartment size ones and we never got around to replacing it because we were always going to go big or go home, and then we moved to Florida. Well, this year we realized we’re only two people and we finally replaced that danged thing. Know what? It cleans faster, better, and quieter than the full-sized, all the bells and whistles we put in our Florida kitchen when we renovated before we moved!
We got a new dishwasher this year, too. It’s so quiet, it has to shine a red light on the floorboards for you to even know it’s on.
I’m grateful for the new job I got back in April. Getting caught up in a COVID-19 related layoff was tough. I’m also grateful for the all electric motor scooter I bought. It got me to work and around town enough that I rarely drove my car. Now that the weather has turned, I’m already looking forward to Spring!
That electric scooter sounds marvelous.
I’m struggling to think of a new thing this year that I am thankful for. I’ll go with the soundbar I got in the spring. My sound system was going, and I didn’t always get all of the soundtrack (ever watch a musical without background music or singers?), and this makes things sound like they should again.
A musical without background music or singers? That must be strange. Yay for your soundbar.
Barb, Massachusetts Driver so true. During the year that I lived just outside of Boston, I came to this conclusion about Massachusetts/Boston drivers. They left their house each morning, unlocked their cars, inserted the key in the ignition, fastened their seatbelts, started the engine, released the parking break, put the car into gear, SHUT THEIR EYES, and began to drive. Upon reaching their destination and parking the car, they opened their eyes and went about the day’s activities.
Thank you for giving this space for the material gratitude. Mine is a 30×40” sunrise photo of a leatherback turtle moving toward the ocean on matte aluminum by Ben Hicks.
You are so right about Massachusetts drivers! New Yorkers cut you off out of aggression. Massholes simply don’t see you! Your photo sounds lovely.
Dear Wickeds, your thankful things made me both smile and tear up. Perfect for the run-up to the holiday. My happy thing? After two years of battling, the car company replaced the lemon with a ‘fingers-crossed’ car that works. YEAH!
Fingers crossed for you, Patti!
I’m thankful for my Instant Pot that I finally caved and bought this year. Now that I have it, I have no idea why I was so scared about having and using a pressure cooker, well except for the old ones that used to blow up lol.
Anyway, now I have no idea how I ever lived without it. It has dang near replaced almost all of my other appliances and since I have a tiny kitchen, that’s priceless.
I remember those old pressure cookers! I’m so glad you love your Instant Pot.
I do not have it yet, but the insurance company has approved me for an electric wheelchair. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
I hope you get it soon. That would be a great “thing” for 2022.
Love this list of items you all are grateful for! It puts me in a thankful mood.
I’m happy with a rubber clip that keeps my wires organized. (Small joys, right?) And it even doubles as a webcam cover so that I’m not unexpectedly on camera. Bonus item: My kids are also excited about an air fryer that got passed down to us.
I am happy for the new TV that Hubby Dearest finally bit the bullet and bought. The colors are so clear and bright, and it is fantastic.