“As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses. … I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death,” said Professor Severus Snape.
–Harry Potter
Unfortunately, this is fiction and Alan Rickman wasn’t so lucky this past week. Neither was David Bowie or Celine Dion’s long-time manager and husband, Rene Angelil.
Cancer is a bitch!
Since I can’t think of a less thankful item, when this whole week cancer has been in the news, I will just focus on some things I am thankful for.
For the gifts, talents, and art left behind, even when the creators of these things are lost to us all.
I have never been a huge David Bowie fan. I missed the boat, all throughout the 70s and when he was first making his mark.
I think, for better or for worse, not being able to see Bowie is part of why I am unable to totally grasp what a unique statement he made. This isn’t to say I don’t believe he was talented, as I can tell from the outpouring of tributes since his death how much of an impression he made on the world of music and more. I did have my favourite Bowie songs though, for sure.
For art, even when it is frightening, sad, or painful to watch.
Some forms of art and creative expression are understood, fully, only by the original producers of that piece of art, but that’s perfectly okay.
I’m just thankful there are those who are free, who feel comfortable enough to express it.
For a very special one-year anniversary, not a relationship or marriage, but still a happy one, unlike the deaths I started this TToT out with.
The first time so many bloggers and writers all got together on the same day (the 20th of the month) to write about compassion was not until next month, but this was the day the idea first started to take shape.
I am so thankful it did. I am so thankful the original creators thought up the idea in the first place. I keep thanking them, but it’s because I am so much more better off since they decided to make a difference in this way
For the chance to stay with my brother again.
It will take a while before I will run out of these because every time I do something with him, even and especially those things we’ve done many times before, I can be grateful that he recovered and we are still able to have all the fun we’ve always had together.
I go to hang out with him, for visits, and it’s always a lot of fun.
This one is not only my thankful. His friend is thankful that they can play music together again.
I am including a link to some music of theirs, which was just put up on YouTube.
For a good piece of pizza.
May be hard to believe, but it’s not as easy to find as it sounds.
First-world thankful right there, but pizza can be a comfort, at a rough moment, especially when eaten with loved ones.
For those loved ones.
I know I am lucky to have them and I am reminded of this at the worst of life’s moments.
I just hope they know they have me, my support, anytime they need it and to not hesitate to reach out, whenever they need anything, anything at all.
For the life of a brilliant performer and the life he brought, on screen, to a certain literary character.
Alan Rickman passed away this week, from cancer, and I am grateful he played the role of Severus Snape, in the Harry Potter films, eight times, not to mention all the other wonderful roles he played during his lifetime.
Read my tribute to Rickman here.
It isn’t always easy to have a character from literature come alive in just the right way when the film of the book comes out, but Rickman WAS Snape. I owe him for that because he made a beautiful dream come true/to life just a little bit more for me, and that’s worth my gratitude here.
For a win for NHL team Chicago Blackhawks.
My brother and his wife were looking forward to this night out together, just the two of them, and I couldn’t think of two people who deserve it more.
I am not a big hockey fan, but my brother loves this team. He deserved to see his team win this time.
For another excellent exercise in creativity and creative writing.
I wanted to attend this particular one because it is being held by a fairly local writer, a Canadian author, whose blog I read regularly and whom I met, for the first time, last year at one of her
Check out one description of what art is, from the writer who held the workshop from my final TTOT of this week, as she uses David Bowie’s final music video as her reference.
On Lazarus, David Bowie’s last-released video
And that is why I love her writing so much.
Speaking of love.
For love. Yes, simply, for love.
It is precisely why I plan to devote the whole of next month to the subject here.
I see it all around me, between couples, families, friends, and even from fans. It is powerful and it is ever-lasting, in one way or another. It’s at the heart of so much of what we do and who we are. It offers hope and makes life worth living.
I may choose to wait to talk exclusively about it on this blog until February, the month known for romance, but I write about it now, when times are toughest because it’s right now when I feel we could all use it most.
Rest in peace, all those we’ve lost this week, may they be spouses, fathers, or grandfathers.
Her Headache 
