Now it's time for community to count our many blessings

Whew.

That sigh isn't coming just from politicians, but from the general public as well.

We heard more than one coffee shop conversation the past few days centering on the idea that this campaign season was the nastiest yet.

We aren't sure about that — heck, they all seem nasty to us — but we do appreciate that just about everyone has had all the campaigning they can handle.

And then some.

So today, as final tallies are made and political careers are launched and folded, we'd like to shift the focus to something we all might agree on.

Here in Bonner County, we're blessed.

We'll work together and move past the political rancor, healing wounds quickly rather than making them fester.

And there's no better way we can think of than to count our blessings.

You do realize, don't you, that Thanksgiving is a mere two weeks away? Now we can shift our collective gaze from the turkeys on political podiums to the poultry at our friendly neighborhood grocers.

Count your blessings, and please, share them with us.

We mean that literally.

Teachers, if you're so inclined, give your kids a writing assignment. Have them write a paragraph or two about their Thanksgiving blessings — the people and things in their lives for which they're thankful. Illustrations are welcome, too.

You bigger pilgrims, we'd love to hear from you, as well. Please mail or bring your Thanksgiving blessings to:

Caroline Lobsinger

Bonner County Daily Bee

Box 159

Sandpoint, ID 83864

If you've got e-mail, send your Thanksgiving blessings to bcdailybee@cdapress.com.

In keeping with this holiday tradition, we'll publish as many of these as we possibly can. The sooner you submit your blessings, the sooner we can publish them — and the more we can get in the paper.

Readers have told us how inspirational your Thanksgiving blessings are, and how much they help put into perspective what matters most in our lives.

In other words, sharing your Thanksgiving blessings is a blessing in itself.