Sunday Salon --- Thankfulness Edition

Weather: It rained a lot this past week, flooding whole towns north of here. Feast of famine or famine around here --- no rain all summer and now this.

Thankfulness: I want to spend this week before Thanksgiving Day with a heart full of thankfulness. Don' you? I'll start. 

• I am thankful that my mother (aged 92) is still living and thriving. We get to spend time with her and other beloved family members this week. I am so thankful.
• My daughter who lives in California will be joining us for Thanksgiving this year. I am not only thankful but also excited.
• I am so thankful for my grandsons, who are the light of my life. Jamie, age one, loves to eat so the Thanksgiving meal should be fun watching him tuck in to the goodies.
• We got our COVID boosters the very day it opened up that anyone was eligible to get them. Thank you government for making them free and available for everyone.
  

Good news:

• Build Back Better Act passed out of the House. Here is what it will provide for the people of this country: CNN Business. And a few highlights:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Kevin McCarthy, minority leader, spoke for 8.5 hours against the BBB Act. Democrats had a good time making fun of his speech. This is my favorite. One person said that the speech practically writes its own SNL skit. We'll see Saturday.

   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  Nevertheless, Democrats passed the bill by themselves. A bill that will help so many Americans.
  

  
  

• "Seven Amazing Trends that Will Make You Feel Great About the Future." (Upworthy) I challenge you to read the article but because I know most of you won't, here are seven highlights. (Please read the details in the article!)
• The middle class is shrinking because people are getting richer!
• Extreme poverty is on a steep decline around the world.
• Far fewer people are dying in wars.
• American's incarceration rate is the lowest it has been since 1995.
• Violent crime has dropped like a rock. (Don't believe me? Go read the article!)
  
•  COVID-19 has forced people to work from home where they are happier and more productive.
• There is tremendous progress in the fight against many diseases like malaria, AIDS, even COVID-19.
  

• "A Guide to the 2021 National Book Award Winners and Finalists", (Vox) On a personal note, I made a stab at reading several of the finalists this year and I loved the winner of the fiction category, Hell of a Book. I guessed that it might win because it is so now and so profound. Here is my review, if you want to take a further peek into my thoughts.
  

Playing for Change video, "Peace Train" by Yusef/ Cat Stevens. My husband knew I'd put this on Sunday Salon after he viewed it. I am a huge fan of this musician. Watch and enjoy.

Books and reviews: 

• Reading:
• Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr -- Another National Book Award finalist. I love this author but I confess that the plot is very complicated taking place during three (possibly four) time periods: The fall of Constantinople 1450s; WWII to current days (1940s to 2020s); in the distant future; and a bit during the 400 BC, the age of the Greeks! Don and I are listening to the audiobook and are enjoying it quite a bit. 59%.
  
• The Book of Difficult Fruit: Arguments for the Tart, Tender, and Unruly (With Recipes) by Kate Lebo -- Interest in foods led me to this book but I confess I may end up scanning it. There are 26 fruits highlighted with lots of details. Print. 7%.
  
• Without You, There Is No Us: My Time With the Sons of North Korea's Elite by Suki Kim -- Another nonfiction title, this one has been hanging around the house for several years. We purchased it after we heard the author speak at an event at Seattle Univ. I participating in a read-a-long with Helen@ Helen's Book Blog. Print. 77% complete.
• Terciel and Elinor by Garth Nix -- the 6th book in the Old Kingdom series which I love. Carly and I challenged each other to listen to it at the same time but she totally beat me. Audiobook from the library. 54%.
  
• The Other Talk: Reckoning With Out White Privilege by Brendon Kiely -- Whites have got to stop feeling hurt feelings with someone points out that the system is set up to favor them. I think reading this book is a good place to start. Another potential Cybils book. Print book from library. 13%.
  
• Completed last week:
• Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre by Brandy Colbert -- a Cybils nominated book for the High School Nonfiction category. Print.
•  Race Against Time: The Untold Story of Scipio Jones and the Race to Save Twelve Innocent Men by Sandra Neil Wallace -- Another Cybils nominated book in the nonfiction category. I'm trying to get a jump on possible reading in the new year when my judging stint starts. Print.
• Matrix by Lauren Groff -- A National Book Award finalist. This one is set during the time of the last Crusades, 1200 CE. The main character is an actual historical woman. Audiobook.
• Reviews: I've fallen way behind on my book reviews. This week I challenged myself to catch up. So far I've reviewed six out of nine. Check out my progress here.
  

 Required cat photo:

Fred is upset that my daughter went back to "in person" work this week. Here he is laying on her dress she was hoping to wear. BTW- Fred must be a camera hog. I haven't seen any photos of George for weeks.

Sometimes I can't believe where we are politically. I try to find ways to laugh but that is often just covering up the tears.

 

 

This bears repeating. People who know the least have as much or more confidence about their knowledge as experts in the field do.

This week: Happy Thanksgiving (if you are American) and Happy Thursday (if you aren't!)

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

-Anne