Be Thankful
Michelle's Column in the Fullerton Observer

I am sitting down to write this a few days after the fires in Brea, Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda and Corona. It is also the week before Thanksgiving. We had many friends have to evacuate during the fire. We had one family spend the weekend with us until they were told they could go back home.

As I think about Thanksgiving this year coming on the heels of the fires, I am reminded how much we have to be thankful for. No one we know lost their home. But even more importantly, everyone we know worked together to help all the evacuees have some place safe to be. We all stayed in touch via the phone and the computer, constantly checking on each other to see what was needed. I was watching the news last night and was touched by all the people all over our communitie s who are giving food, money, clothes, or whatever else they can to help people who lost so much.

These types of tragedies help us to keep our priorities straight. Everyone I know who was evacuated packed up what was really important. After the people, animals and important papers, what filled the cars were pictures. Memories are so much more important than china.

So, this Thanksgiving, give thanks for what is really meaningful. Give thanks for your loved ones, family and friends. Give thanks for your health. Give thanks for the wonderful memories that you have. Give thanks for all that you have, don’t worry about what you don’t. We all have much to be thankful for this year. Be safe.