It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

A well-known fact among anyone who knows me well knows how much I simply LOVE Thanksgiving…and of course I’m hardly alone.

What can possibly be wrong with gratitude, family, friends and food?

Another well-known fact among anyone who knows me well also knows that I can be a wee bit of a “scrooge” around this time of year…

It’s not that I don’t like giving (or receiving) gifts…it’s far more the anxiety that a seemingly mandatory custom of “having” to do so can cause.

Those who know me well know that this year though, I am excited for Christmas…particularly Christmas Eve as it will be a type of replay of Thanksgiving.

All of the friends from Thanksgiving won’t be there but there will gallons and gallons of gratitude with family (and some pretty good grub too).

It seems fairly easy sometimes to take for granted our own good fortunes and the blessings we have…the seemingly simple daily conveniences of fresh food, clean water, a roof over our heads and the safety of our families luxuries that many haven’t had in some time and many others lost just recently.

The 2018 wildfire season was the most destructive and deadly wildfire season on record in California, with a total of 8,434 fires burning an area of 1,890,438 acres, the largest amount of burned acreage recorded in a fire season, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) and the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), as of December 6. The fires have caused more than $3.5 billion (2018 USD) in damages, including $1.792 billion in fire suppression costs.

Here’s a list of organizations that can always use assistance…particularly during this most wonderful time of the year

East Bay SPCA
Alameda County Community Food Bank
Give Back Homes
Adopt a Homeless Senior
Milo Foundation
Berkeley Animal Rights Center
Women’s Cancer Resource Center
Bay Area Rescue Mission
Operation Dignity
Habitat for Humanity East Bay
OBAR Community Foundation
Jewish Family & Community Services

Stay well!

-Barry

P.S. In the event you’re still seeking physical gifts for people in your life here are a few thoughts…

New York Time Gift Guide

Some really pretty cool stuff here!

1000 Books to Read Before You Die

The reviews are amazing, the ad got me hooked…

Is that the feeling we cherish as readers, to finish a book that’s so good we can’t wait to tell everyone about it?

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1000 Books To Read Before You Die  

…is just that, like your best-read friend reaching out to say you HAVE to read this, and this, and this, and this –– it’s one extraordinary work!

Flip it open to any page and be transfixed by a fresh take on a very favorite book. Or one you meant to read and never got around to. Or stumble on a completely unknown author and work, and feel the tingle of discovery that can come when browsing in the best kind of bookshop.

There are classics, of course, and unexpected treasures, too. Themed list to help pick and choose, including read in a sitting and singular self-portraits. The books alphabetical arrangement by author assures that surprises await on almost every turn of the page. All of which will have you agreeing with what Michael Durda also said quote:

“948 pages later, you still want more”

 

P.P.S. I am (no pun intended) wrapping up a list of books that I’ve been compiling from friends, clients, colleagues etc which I’ll get posted ASAP.