Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. Sure, there are flashier ones, and ones where you get presents, and ones that have fireworks or theme songs. But Thanksgiving, to me at least, has family. I don’t just mean your parents and siblings and even in-laws – Thanksgiving is about the family that you have created around you. Your friends, those people you see that add a little brightness to your day, those who you have chosen to spend your days or your life with. It’s about your constructed family, both human and non. Ever since I was young, I’ve been captivated by the concept that there is this special time, this special day, where you can celebrate not by rushing around or buying things or making the best decorations, but instead by looking at those you have around you and thinking “gee, I’m so glad you’re in my life”. To me that is magical. Not the magic that is for kids, and that fades as you grow up – this is the kind of magic that can, that should, become stronger as you age.
You see, each year we have more to be thankful of and for. Some years you may have to look for it a little longer or harder than others, but it’s there. This year, Lexi and I both have so many new friends to be thankful for. In this last year I got to know the amazing folks over at Handsome Dan’s Rescue, and through them we welcomed Lexi into our home. Through Lexi, we have gotten to know so many hundreds of people who have donated so generously towards her care, who have followed her story, who have given words of encouragement and advice as we’ve worked through these last nearly 5 months together. I know that all of these people, all of you, have made my life richer for our meeting.
I know that, to Lexi, your presence in her life has meant the world. Dogs may not have an understanding of the concept of holidays, it’s true, but I know from living with her that Lexi gives thanks each and every day, with every fiber of herself. They don’t need a special day for it, that’s just what dogs do. However, today, I’ve sat down with Lexi and we’re making a list of those things that she’s thankful for to share with you all on the eve of this special day, this holiday of all holidays. Here, then, is Lexi’s Thankful list (we encourage you all to make one for yourself, too – you’d be surprised how long it could be!):
1. Couches (and futons)
2. Pumpkin
3. Antler Chews
4. Squeaky toys
5. Doggy Boots
6. Hugs – even (especially?) when you steal ’em!
7. Thick, cooshy beds
8. Wubbas
9. Interesting smells
10. Calming Doggy Music
11. Not having tummy troubles
12. Cyclosporine
13. The Snood
14. A Foster Sister who tries very hard to be nice
15. Warm coats (and sweaters and jackets and blankets and…)
16. The HDR Family – Each and every one of you, wherever you are
17. Her Forever home, wherever they are, and the moment they realize she’s The One.
Snoods are brilliant!
We’re sure there are many more, but we think this is a pretty good start. We’re also pretty sure that, tomorrow, we’ll be able to add number 18: Sweet Potato, baked just for me! (shh, don’t ruin the surprise).
So, with that, we would like to wish you all an amazing Thanksgiving. We hope you all have as much as Lexi does to be Thankful for this year, and that you have friends and family to share thanks with, and that you enjoy this day as much as we will. Don’t be afraid to let somebody know they matter to you, and understand that you are important to someone. We are all fortunate enough to be part of this amazing community of caring people who really do make positive change in the world, and even if we don’t celebrate it as often as the dogs in our lives do, we hope you are able to take a few moments tomorrow to do so.
With all our love, from the bottom of our hearts, Thank You!
-Lexi and her foster family
Defining Lexi 