Of all holidays, I probably look forward to Christmas and Halloween most, mostly because of my happy childhood memories of those holidays. Thanksgiving has always had its place, eating cinnamon rolls while watching the Macy’s parade and browsing the ads, eating too much turkey and instantly regretting it. But as I get older I appreciate this holiday more. It’s the thankfulness.

Europeans don’t do Thanksgiving, unless it’s with an American at the table. It’s something that we and our Canadian friends do. Something in our North American DNA has cultivated this strange holiday, not a saint or ancient pagan tradition like the Euro holidays. Of course I know the story of the Pilgrims and so on, but I think that spirit comes from something else.

I suppose it’s something much more ancient in a way, thanking the earth for the food we need to survive, or maybe we are thankful because of the endless possibility of where we live. It’s right for us to be thankful because Americans are very fortunate. We have opportunity, the ability to improve and change our lives if we want, to become whatever we want. That’s much more difficult abroad, especially in Italy. That sense of innate optimism is unique to our culture, I wouldn’t be who I am without it.

I have much to be thankful for, on personal and professional levels. One of the things at the top of my list this year is you. Yes YOU! I had no idea when I started writing that anyone would want to read my crazy talk, other than my parents and girlfriends. That I have a following now, especially after such a short time, is just unbelievable to me. So I’d like to thank you all for helping me to get this afloat, for your likes, shares and comments. And I’d like to show my appreciation in the most Sarah way possible, I’d like to give you something I’ve made.

If you know me, you know I like to do artsy-crafty things. I paint, knit, cook, and so on. One of my favorite art techniques is block printing. I’m working on a series of postcard-style prints of Italy, so far I have Venice, Florence and Rome. I’d like to break out of the virtual world and send some of you a handmade print as a gift, as a thank you. I don’t know how many of you will want one, and I don’t know how many I can make and afford to send.

So let’s do this, if you’d like one, email your address to me at murdoch.howard@gmail.com with the subject “Art Print”. I’ll send you one of the three (randomly chosen) and I’ll mail them out in the order that the email was received. I will do as many as I can, you can send requests through the end of the day on Friday, November 27. If I get more emails than I can handle I’ll post a note on my Facebook page.  I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving, thank you for supporting me and being a part of my adventures!