Today is Thanksgiving Day

A Season of Gratitude: Looking Back, Looking Around, Looking Forward

Today is Thanksgiving Day.  I find myself pausing more often, sometimes in the quiet of early morning, sometimes after finishing a blog entry, to think about what it means to be grateful. Thanksgiving has always asked us to reflect, but this year, gratitude feels less like a ritual and more like a companion walking beside me.

Over the years, I’ve written hundreds of posts, some sparked by world news, some by television shows I’ve rediscovered, and some by memories from my long career with the FDA. Since 2009, blogging has become my way of stitching together the big and small pieces of my life: the breakthroughs in medicine I once evaluated, the pop-culture moments that make me laugh, the thoughtful articles that give me something to consider, and yes, the personal journeys that have shaped my days.

Looking back at my FDA years, especially my time working on anti-malarial drug products and my involvement in the 9/11 aftermath, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunities I had to contribute to public health. Not everyone gets the chance to spend a career in government service, quiet service, often invisible, but meaningful nonetheless. Those years taught me discipline, purpose, and the weight of responsibility. They also taught me how deeply interconnected we all are, how a decision in a federal office could ripple outward and protect lives I would never meet.

This year, gratitude also takes on a more intimate meaning. Living with a serious illness has changed the way I measure time. I have declined dialysis, choosing instead a path of peace, clarity, and presence. I don’t say this with sadness, but with honesty. Every day feels distilled now, sharper in its beauty, quieter in its lessons. I am grateful for mornings when I feel strong, for conversations that make me smile, and for the weekly whole-body massages that have brought comfort to my body and calm to my spirit these past twenty-two months.

And then there is the gratitude that comes from connection, readers who have followed my posts for years, friends who check in, and strangers who find something of themselves in my writing. Blogging has sustained me more than I ever expected. It has allowed me to keep learning, questioning, observing, and sharing even when my world has become smaller and slower.

Today, I find myself giving thanks not for the grand things, but for the real ones: For a life spent doing meaningful work. For stories and shows that remind me how human we all are.  For the ability to keep writing, one post at a time. For each moment that is still mine.

May this holiday season be a reminder that gratitude doesn’t always come from abundance, it often comes from awareness. From noticing what still lights us up. From recognizing the people and experiences that carried us this far.

Wherever you are reading this from a bustling kitchen, a quiet living room, or from your apartment in a senior living community, may your Thanksgiving be filled with warmth, honesty, and grace. And may gratitude, however it appears in your life this year, be enough. 

Again, Happy Thanksgiving to ALL. 

Meanwhile, here's my Thanksgiving Poem, I dedicate to all my blog readers all over the World

I give thanks for quiet mornings,
for a blinking cursor and a waiting page,
where a 91-year-old heart remembers
and turns long decades into measured lines.

I give thanks for bridges crossed twice over—
from Iloilo shores to American offices,
where an immigrant stood his ground with dignity
against the small, sharp cuts of racism.​

I give thanks for work once done in crises,
for burnt lives tended and rules made humane,
for service that did not ask for applause
but left its mark in silent, safer days.​

I give thanks for the games that keep the mind awake—
for Bridge and Mahjong five days a week,
for aching legs that still insist on walking
around the senior compound, lap by grateful lap.​

I give thanks for love that lasted sixty‑three years,
for an empty chair that somehow glows with presence,
for living alone but never truly lonely,
companioned by memory, purpose, and the world that reads.​

And tonight, I give thanks for one more sentence,
for the simple fact of still being here to write it—
a blogger in the twilight, steady at the keyboard,
offering his life as a small lamp of gratitude.

Some of Favorite Quotes:  

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love."

Hamilton Wright Mabie​

 

"May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility."

Mary Anne Radmacher​

 

"The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us."

Anonymous​

 

"May love and light fill your home and heart at Hanukkah."

Unknown​

 

"Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home."

Edith Sitwell

Last, but not list, a Thank you Note from my Neighbor across the Hallway, Sandi Green...

My Food For Thought For Today:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/844857251277828

Robert Irwin Won DWTS Trophy

If you read my blogs, you probably Know that the ABC Dancing with the Stars is one of my Favorite Reality TV Shows, besides CBS Survivor and Amazing Race.

BREAKING NEWS: In a jaw-dropping, nation-stopping finale, Robert Irwin officially STEALS the Mirrorball Trophy in a record-breaking vote, leaving fans, judges, and competitors absolutely stunned. The 21-year-old wildlife warrior didn’t just dance, he dominated, dazzled, and rewrote DWTS history, clinching the closest finale the show has ever seen.

Sources reveal backstage chaos erupted as Robert effortlessly outshined seasoned pros, his routines described as flawless, electric, and unforgettable. Insiders say the victory is more than a win, it completes a decade-long Irwin family legacy, cementing the dynasty his parents and sister began years ago.

Robert himself reportedly whispered to a friend: “I just wanted to honor my family and show the world what we’re capable of. I can’t believe it actually happened.” Meanwhile, Bindi and Terri were seen tearing up in pride, overwhelmed as the Irwin name reclaimed the spotlight in spectacular fashion.

Fans are flooding social media, calling it the most heart-stopping, thrilling, and emotional DWTS finale ever, a moment that proves the Irwins are unstoppable from the wildlife stage to the dance floor, their dynasty reigns supreme.

BREAKING NEWS: Robert Irwin Dances His Way Into History, And Into Our Hearts

In one of the most electrifying, heart-pounding finales in Dancing With the Stars history, 21-year-old Robert Irwin has done the unthinkable, he won the Mirrorball Trophy in a record-breaking, razor-thin vote that stunned the nation.

This was not just a victory. This was a moment. The kind of moment when confetti freezes midair, judges leap from their seats with perfect scores, and an entire audience holds its breath as a young man discovers the full strength of who he can be.

Robert didn’t simply dance. He took the stage and owned it, a wildlife warrior turned ballroom phenomenon. Week after week he transformed, surprising even those who had followed his journey since childhood. There was grit in every step, joy in every lift, and that unmistakable Irwin heart in every performance.

The finale itself felt like a national event, phones buzzing, votes pouring in, fans glued to their screens. When the host finally announced his name, the world seemed to pause for a beat. Robert’s reaction said everything: disbelief, relief, and a young man’s overwhelming gratitude collapsing into his partner’s arms.

The judges were nearly as emotional, holding up their “10” paddles with the kind of unanimous excitement reserved for only the most iconic moments in DWTS history.

What makes this win so special is not just the trophy, though the Mirrorball has never sparkled brighter, but the story behind it. Robert took a challenge far outside his world of conservation and crocodiles, and turned it into a triumph of courage, vulnerability, and growth.

In a time when newsfeeds are filled with turmoil and division, seeing a young person work hard, take risks, and win through sheer heart feels like a breath of fresh air.

Tonight, Robert Irwin didn’t just rewrite DWTS history. He reminded us why we watch these shows in the first place: to witness joy, transformation, and the rare moments when someone’s dream becomes real right before our eyes.

And for one unforgettable night, Australia, America, and fans around the globe danced right along with him.

Lastly, Irwin and LGBTQ+ Support:

BREAKING: Proud LGBTQ+ ally Robert Irwin just won Dancing with the Stars - and Jonathan Bailey is probably celebrating too.

The 21-year-old wildlife conservationist and certified heartthrob claimed the Mirrorball Trophy tonight alongside partner Witney Carson, making the Irwins the first siblings in DWTS history to both win the competition.

His sister Bindi won exactly 10 years ago, and now Robert's carrying on the family legacy in the most spectacular way possible.

But let's talk about what really matters - this man has been serving LOOKS and LGBTQ+ allyship all season long. Remember when he ripped his shirt off during that salsa to "Million Dollar Baby"? The internet absolutely lost it. The thirst was real, and we were all here for it.

What makes Robert even more special is his proud support of the LGBTQ+ community. Back in 2020, he publicly declared himself an ally on Coming Out Day, and he's stayed true to that ever since. During Wicked week, he got emotional after receiving flowers and a heartfelt note from Jonathan Bailey (yes, THAT Jonathan Bailey).

The Wicked star wrote "You are the Shiz, Robert. You've done all the Fiyeros proud" - and Robert was genuinely moved, jumping up and down with excitement. That moment became one of the season's most wholesome highlights.

And here's what makes tonight's win even more impressive - Robert danced through a painful rib injury during the finale. His partner Witney revealed his ribs had been "killing him" all week, forcing them to modify routines and rehearse until the studio literally kicked them out at 9 p.m. But he pushed through three demanding dances and delivered flawless performances.

When co-host Julianne Hough asked what winning meant to him, Robert got emotional and quoted his sister: "Thank you for changing my life." After scoring 89 points and winning America's votes, Robert proved he's not just Steve Irwin's son - he's a star in his own right, and we're absolutely obsessed.

Finally, Four Photos I took Today in My Apartment:

Batman enjoying the sink after my cleaning Cleaning Lady did her Job, today

My Bougainvilleas are still in bloom, in spite of the cool mornings

How Long is A Moment? Tea and Trivia at THD

This blog is inspired from our recent Tea and Trivia Activity💚 here at THD.  One of the 15 questions, we have to answer was:   

How Long Is a Moment? My Personal Reflections!

I have been thinking lately about the tiny slices of time that make up a life. At our recent Tea and Trivia activity one of the question asked was, “How long is a moment?” It sounds simple, almost like something a child might ask during a long car ride. But at my age—and after the many chapters of living I’ve already turned—questions like this carry a weight far beyond their grammar.

If you ask a medieval monk, a moment is exactly 90 seconds. They divided every hour into 40 little units of time, as if life could be portioned out like communion wafers. But in the world I actually inhabit, the world of grandkids and great-grandkids, of flights between coasts, of hospital corridors and political chatter, a moment is never 90 seconds. It is either far shorter or impossibly longer.

A moment is the quick glance of a five-month-old great-grandchild on Thanksgiving morning, dressed in something both adorable and slightly tacky. It lasts maybe half a second, but the memory lingers in me like a warm light on a winter afternoon.

A moment is also the pause before a doctor delivers news that will bend the path of your life. That moment feels like an entire season, stretched so thin you can hear it hum. I have lived through a few of those.

Sometimes a moment is the space between hearing a hurtful comment like being told once that I could never be “truly American” because my citizenship came through naturalization and the breath I take before deciding not to let the words root too deeply. That moment has lasted decades, woven through all the places I have called home and all the contributions I have made to this country that sometimes doubts me.

Moments are not counted by clocks. They are counted by impact and achievements.

The first time I reported for duty at the FDA in Rockville, MD in September, 1990. 
The early mornings after 9/11 when the world felt stunned and fragile.
The decision to keep writing, year after year, since 2009, letting my blog serve as a kind of time capsule for thoughts that arrive quietly but insist on being named.

These moments stretch far beyond their 90 medieval seconds. They are measured not in minutes, but in meaning.

So how long is a moment? Long enough to shape a life. Short enough to slip away if we don’t pay attention. And sometimes, long enough to stay with us even after we are gone.

💚Kudos to Elane Johnson, Newly Hired Activity Coordinator for excellent hosting of the Tea and Trivia Party last Sunday. 

Meanwhile, here are some of the others Questions at Our Trivia and Tea Activity last Sunday. For Answers look at the bottom of the Page: ( If you answers correctly 10 of the questions, I salute You, You are a genius and a walking encyclopedia. You should try out for the Jeopardy TV show).   

1. What Country Advertised itself as the Country of a Thousand Smiles?

2. What are the two Planets without a Moon?

3. What are the two States that do not have Daylight Saving Time?

4. What is the Biggest County  ( Area wise) in California? 

5. What are the the two name of Baby Owls?

6. How old is the Concord Pavilion in Concord, CA?     

7. Where is the Earth the thickest? 

8. Before it was called a mouse, what animal was the computer accessory named after?

9. How many languages are written from right to left?

10.  How many Earths could fit inside the sun?

My Photo of the Day

Answers: 1-Thailand, 2-Mercury and Venus, 3-Arizona and Hawaii, 4-San Bernardino, 5-Owlets or Nestlings, 6-50 years. 7-Around the Equator, 8-The Turtle, 9-12, 10-1.3 Million   

Finally the Top Global News (Nov 26, 2025)

• Venture Global inks 20-year LNG deal with Tokyo Gas — The U.S. LNG exporter signed a long-term supply agreement to deliver 1 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas annually to Tokyo Gas starting in 2030. Reuters+2Reuters+2

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv is ready to advance a U.S.-backed peace plan with Russia — Ukraine signaled willingness to move forward with a proposed peace deal, though sensitive points will require further negotiation with the U.S. and European allies. Reuters+2The Indian Express+2

• Emmanuel Macron announces EU plan to finance Ukraine using frozen Russian assets — France and other EU countries are working on a financial support package for Ukraine, leveraging seized Russian assets to back reconstruction and security guarantees. Reuters+1

• European Union (EU) pledges continued support for Ukraine with cash and weapons amid ongoing negotiations — The EU reaffirmed its commitment to helping Ukraine diplomatically, militarily, and economically even as diplomatic efforts intensify. Reuters+1

• Global markets rally as investors react to geopolitical developments and central-bank signals — Markets saw gains after dovish indicators from central banks and renewed hopes for stability amid major international tensions. Reuters+1

• Alibaba under pressure as China’s tech-commerce price wars overshadow AI gains — The Chinese tech giant’s aggressive spending on AI and cloud competes with losses in food-delivery and quick-commerce markets, raising investor concerns. Reuters

• Shell accused by Venture Global of harming its LNG business in a years-long campaign — Amid legal disputes, Venture Global claimed Shell initiated efforts to undermine its LNG operations — highlighting tensions in global energy markets. Reuters+1

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) urges a binding agreement on nuclear safety for Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant if Ukraine-Russia deal proceeds — As peace talks advance, the UN nuclear watchdog warns that nuclear safety cooperation will be critical for any long-term settlement. The Guardian+1

• NATO jets scrambled after foreign drones cross into Romanian airspace — raising regional security tensions — Reports of unauthorized drone incursion near Ukraine’s border triggered a NATO response, underscoring fragility in European airspace security. The Guardian+1

• Major diplomatic meeting scheduled: Jean-Noel Barrot of France to meet Iran’s foreign minister over nuclear issues — Paris plans high-stakes talks on November 26 to press Iran to comply with obligations toward the IAEA and discuss broader regional concerns. Reuters+1

  

A Thanksgiving of Quiet Gratitude

Today is just two days before Thanksgiving Day. I find myself slowing down in ways I once resisted. Maybe it’s age, maybe it’s wisdom, or maybe it’s simply where life has brought me, but this year, gratitude feels less like something I “practice” and more like something I quietly notice. It rises in unexpected moments, soft and steady, shaping my days.

I’ve been blogging since 2009, and for all these years, writing has been my anchor. Even now, it gives me a place to lay down my thoughts, to make sense of the world, and to share a little of myself with whoever might be reading. My posts have always wandered from TV shows I rediscover, to the latest headlines, to scientific breakthroughs and memories from my FDA years but they’ve been part of a long conversation about what matters.

Looking back on my career with the FDA, especially the seasons of my life spent working on anti-malarial drug products and those difficult months after 9/11, I realize how deeply those experiences shaped me. I didn’t always appreciate it at the time. But now, with distance, I can see the enormous privilege of having spent my life doing work that protected others. It wasn’t glamorous, and it rarely earned applause, but it was meaningful. And for that, I am deeply grateful.

In this chapter of my life, living with the reality of a serious illness, gratitude has taken on a more tender tone. I’ve made choices about my care with a clear mind and an open heart, including declining dialysis. There is peace in that decision. A surprising peace, actually. It has reminded me that gratitude is not about pretending everything is fine; it is about recognizing what remains beautiful, even in difficult terrain.

I am grateful for the simple things: For the comfort of my weekly massages, which have become small sanctuaries of care. For mornings when my body cooperates and I can move through the world with ease. For familiar TV shows that wrap me in a sense of companionship. For the rhythm of writing, which gives shape to my days.

And I am grateful for connection, for the readers who pause to spend a few minutes with me with their comments;  for the quiet exchange that happens between writer and reader even when we never meet. My blog has been a companion through so many seasons of my life. It has allowed me to keep learning, to keep reflecting, to keep speaking in my own voice.

This Thanksgiving, I’m not thinking about big celebrations or grand gratitude lists. Instead, I’m noticing the smaller, honest things: The warmth of a weighted blanket. The comfort of a familiar routine. The memory of the work I once did. The presence of people who care. A surprise gift (Filipino Food) from a Kababayan and the gift of another day to notice any of it at all. The ability to enjoy good food, ethnic or otherwise. And finally, the connection from closed relatives specially on Holidays.  

As the Thanksgiving Day approach, my hope is simple: that gratitude finds you in the quiet places too. That it meets you gently, without expectation. And that whatever this season looks like for you, whether lively or peaceful, crowded or still, you’re able to find a moment that feels warm, grounding, and true. 

From my heart to yours, I wish you ALL, a Thanksgiving filled with meaning, reflection, and the kind of gratitude that doesn’t announce itself, but simply rests softly in the background, reminding us we’re still here.

Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorite quotes on Gratitude:  

• “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward 
• “If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.” — Meister Eckhart 
• “Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” — Maya Angelou 
“Thanks are the highest form of thought, and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” — G.K. Chesterton 
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.” — Anonymous 

Finally, Here are five top news stories for November 25, 2025:

1. Pope Leo’s First Foreign Trip: Pope Leo (the first U.S.-born pope) is set to visit Turkey and Lebanon from Nov 27 to Dec 2 to deliver a message of peace and interfaith dialogue. Reuters

2. G20 Summit in South Africa Concludes: The G20 Johannesburg summit saw a 122-point declaration focused on global equity, debt relief, climate, and sustainable development — despite the U.S. largely boycotting the event. Le Monde.fr+1

3. COP30 Climate Summit Disrupted by Fire: A fire broke out at the COP30 climate conference venue in Belém, Brazil, prompting evacuation; smoke inhalation was reported for some participants. AP News+1

4. UN Chief Blames Climate Inaction: UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the world’s failure to meet the 1.5°C global warming target as a “moral failure,” urging stronger commitments at COP30. The Guardian

5. Australia Politics — Gambling Ad Reform & Domestic Violence Funding: In Australia, Senator David Pocock criticized PM Anthony Albanese for delaying a ban on gambling ads, even as the government announced a $41.8M boost to the national domestic violence helpline (1800 Respect). The Guardian