I'm trying very hard not to think about elections and the future of our country as the bully of the world.

But..

I'm not succeeding.

The depression that follows an election when your vote did not count towards the winner, is mind blowing. That red swath across the country was really in the face of the Kerry supporters. And there are a lot of people that are facing their family gatherings this month with a space as big as the middle of our country where the winning smile should be.

The reactions I am seeing on the web are all non to pleasant. People are angry. Those that hung up signs saying "Anyone but Bush" are springing into action. They are forming groups online to impeach our new/old president; they want to storm the white house. They are creating online sites that demand we get rid of the electoral vote and make the president elected by the popular count.

It's true, I did not vote for President Bush. I believe still, that Kerry would have made a better president. BUT, and that's a big butt, I don't want to spend Thanksgiving without thinking thankful thoughts.

So I'm thankful that our country came out in record numbers and voted for who they thought (okay, some of them were wrong) was going to be the best president. I'm thankful that this struggle between red and blue has made us all more proactive and involved. I'm thankful for people who continue to fight for their beliefs when faced with adversity on a GRAND scale. I'm thankful that we do not hold grudges against our neighbors who did not vote for our candidate. I'm thankful for those people who tried to get to the polls or tried to make a difference and didn't succeed, those that didn't vote. Because it means we are all realizing we can make a difference and one person's step forward leads all of us. And I'm thankful that our nation does not allow a president to run for more than two terms.

This time the people lead us in a direction I didn't want to go, but I'm thankful that instead of forcing me to eat crow, my Bush supporting friends are offering me a really good turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Email Carol Wood at Carol@hazelst.com and tell her what color your butt is, and send your favorite stuffing recipe.

That's the news from LaLaLand.