This is a happy, hectic time in my house. Everyone comes “home” for Thanksgiving. We all eat like crazy and, more important, laugh like crazy.

This November, however, I am having trouble writing notes to put into our family’s Thanksgiving grateful jar. Sure, our life is good and we have much to be thankful for. But this year’s election has torn our country apart more seriously than any I remember. It seems that although we used to feel sad if our candidate didn’t win, we’d pick ourselves up and move on, knowing that our country was still on a firm foundation and that our checks and balances would keep us on a reasonable track. This time, I’m not so sure.

People on both sides sound angry and vindictive, and some of us are frightened. We need to get past this, and it’s not going to be easy. My hope is that, a year from now, I won’t have trouble writing for our grateful jar.

Happy Thanksgiving.