Happy Thanksgiving, Moorpark

Thanksgiving Day is a time to offer thanks for family gatherings and holiday meals of turkeys, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.  At Thanksgiving, more than ever, our thoughts turn to our many blessings and our hopes for our future generations. 

Last week I had the opportunity to ask the fifth grade class at Peach Hill School (room 11) what one word comes to mind when you think about Thanksgiving. They responded enthusiastically, “Turkey, food, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, pumpkin pie, family, cornbread, togetherness, apple pie, giving, parade floats, gravy, ham, rice, pumpkin bread, being thankful, sweet potatoes, cheese tamales, giving thanks, football, squash, eating, pray, Pilgrims, grandma cooking, grace, kids helping, mom, dad, say a prayer, give thanks, and family.” 

We have a solid historical past and our children demonstrate we have an extremely bright future. After leaving the fifth grade class last week I thought about the words of William Wordsworth, “all that we behold is full of blessings.”  

Bill Clinton said that “the spirit of Thanksgiving requires more than just an acknowledgment of our blessings; it calls upon us to reach out and share those blessings with others.” I am thankful for the many residents and organizations in Moorpark who reached out during this holiday and throughout the year to collect food and items for those most in need. It is the people of Moorpark who fill this holiday with togetherness, gratitude and love.  

In Moorpark our traditions will continue long into the future.   

Best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.