When I think of November, I think of family and tradition. I think of great food and comfort and home. November makes me feel a deep appreciation and gratitude for all the people I love.

Tonight was my last night at the #NCTE17 Conference in St. Louis,. No matter what state the conference is held, Scholastic hosts a free Thanksgiving dinner for teachers.  Tonight, was the 85th year of this long tradition.

The first dinner was hosted by  Maurice Robinson in 1932. His son, Dick Robinson, continues this tradition in great style and grace. Like a good host, he greets everyone’s table, and then he reads the same speech, the same one his father wrote all those years ago. What a beautiful act of gratitude for teachers and homage to his father. There are so many things to be thankful for all we have to do is look for them.

I know I usually reflect on my how I’m doing with staying on plan (dinner was estimated at 19sp and yes I did eat the little slice of pumpkin pie) but I thought you might be inspired to hear this story. I think gratitude fills us up with a kind of fullness that we can’t get from food. Gratitude draws us together connecting us with all that we have instead of all that we lack. What if we were all thankful every day? That’s what I’m thinking about so it must be relevant to this journey.

I hope you had a successful day. I am sending out well wishes to my Saturday morning friends I miss you too and look forward to seeing you all next week.