Serene Karplus, Nederland.  For many of us, every day is Thanksgiving Day as we live in gratitude for the abundance we enjoy daily. As our nation faces the unknown changes in the years ahead, we pause to consider some of the big and little joys in our lives, knowing that all are precious, and like our dearest friends, must be treasured every day because any one could vanish in an instant. Here is a short list of gratitude to ponder and expand:

- Flannel sheets

- National Parks and public lands

- Berries flown in from all over the world

- Parents who invest in their children’s education

- Cars

- Heart surgeons

- Artists, Musicians

- The people who support artists & musicians

- Peace in my country

- Soft pants

- Deer in the yard

- Watermelon

- Dad being a good sport about his move

- Clean air, clean water

- Electrical repairmen during a storm

- Volunteers

- Snow plowers

- People who give from their hearts and finances

- A big office window that opens

- Ethnic diversity

- Vacuum cleaners

- People who make commitments and honor them

- Plumbers

- Good listeners

- Writers, Proofreaders

- The Internet

- Moose in the yard

- Cancer survivors

- Miles of trails

- Squirreled away nickels for retirement

- Volunteers

- Light switches

- People who show up

- Magnificent mountain vistas

- Someone to love who loves me

The point of it all is giving and thinking of others. We at NAS are most grateful to those who contribute time and funds to our efforts to enhance mountain living, not just for older adults, but for everyone.

Our upcoming Holiday Mountain Market on December 3 and 4 is an enormous gift we bring to the community each year. It brings together hundreds of people at the biggest holiday party in the mountains – neighbors who admit they see each other far too rarely. The event pumps tens of thousands of dollars into the local microbusiness economy and supports nonprofits - thanks to all of you who save up your gift buying for this occasion.

Our seniors are unable to volunteer all of the hours it takes to host an event of this magnitude. For this hugely popular community event, we are asking for your help.  If you can donate a couple of hours to assist us during that weekend, we would be most grateful.  Please call 303-258-0799. Thank you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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All adults are welcome at all Mountain MidLife and Nederland Area Seniors events, attended mostly by folks over age 50. Everyone is invited to luncheons every Monday and Wednesday, breakfast on most second Saturdays, and dinners on third Fridays in fall at the Nederland Community Center. Please call two days ahead for reservations (further ahead for dinners and breakfasts, if possible) to 303-258-0799. (Missed the deadline? Call anyway.) Cost shown lists first the over-age-60 requested contribution, then the cost for under-age-60.

Saturday/Sunday, Dec 1&2: Fun foods at the Holiday Mountain Market Café