Friday, November 21, 2008

No mutiny on bounty here

It's almost Thanksgiving. I've been thinking a lot about that -- thanksgiving, not just the holiday at which we celebrate it -- lately. Seems like every morning the clock-radio wakes me, some newscaster is bemoaning the stock market's consistent slide, the automakers' imminent collapse, global disaster ensuing: LIFE AS WE KNOW IT IS OVER! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!! News at 6. If foreclosure doesn't find us, global warming will. If we don't stop eating, we'll die early deaths. Red wine makes us fat and drunk, but happy and cancer-free. Huh? I'm all confused. I don't know what to be afraid of anymore. It's just. Too. Much.

There's been a mutiny, and we just refuse to be thankful for what we have. Not "have in comparison to someone else" but "have," period.So, I'm retreating from all of this. Instead of focusing on everything that's gonna drive me to an early grave or send me to hell in that handbasket I'm so fond of, I'm honing in on what I have, and what I'm thankful for.

For starters: So far I have a roof over my head and a comfortable mattress. That's all good. I'm sort of creaky and have brittle fingernails, but I'm not too wrinkly and have all my teeth. That's good, too. I have health -- a gift for which I can give thanks every day. I have people in my life who love me and show me, in small but touching ways, that I am important to them: My husband, for example, doesn't get irritated about my crashing around in the kitchen or starting up the washing machine or even running the vacuum before he wakes up in the morning. He knows I'm a neat freak and doesn't complain about it, just lets me do my thing.

I have a car with good brakes and a house with three working furnaces (well, one's for the garage, and one's for the workshop). I have terrific neighbors, including a wonderful public high school right across the street from my house. I enjoy watching the kids come and go to school and especially like the nice big scoreboard (I can see that when I'm doing dishes) when the girls play softball. I can see the horizon from my deck, my own version of wide-open spaces in the heart of suburbia. Sometimes, I can see fireworks displays from other cities there. It's very cool.

I have a tree in my yard that has to be 100 years old. Isn't that amazing? And my crysanthemums keep coming back year after year. A miracle.

I am thankful for the view outside my office windows, the words on my bookshelf, and the Internet. And that is not all, no. That is not all. What makes you thankful? Share the bounty.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I will 'fess up and let you know that I read your blog. I am a friend of Meg's and found your blog via Lucypants. And it's through your blog that I came across Lemmondrops and feel like I know her because of her blog. She is at the top of our prayer list. Anyway...I like your writing and enjoy what you have to say. I also have a blog: www.sweatpantsandaminivan.blogspot.com

I am thankful for:
*a responsible renter in our St. Paul home who appreciates the care we took in the house when we lived there
*a beautiful and affordable house to rent in Kansas since we couldn't sell ours in St. Paul
*my health and that of my husband, kids, and extended family
*two cars that run and are paid for
*the fact that I haven't lost that baby weight means we have food on our table
*health insurance
*that my postpartum depression is gone finally
*the Kansas State Marching Band my *my husband and my kids

Happy Thanksgiving!

Madwoman of Preserve Path said...

Heather: Welcome! Some day, we're gonna all get together and have a glass of wine or three on a perfect summer evening on my deck, where we'll watch the awesome sunset (which is a command performance each evening, just for me), celebrate Emilie's health and listen to the Kansas State rouser. I'm serious. You in?

Nicole said...

Hi, Mom.

I feel like I have a million things to be thankful for this year, especially since the newspaper continues to bombard us with doom and gloom.

Here are a few things that I'm most grateful for right now:

1. A loving husband and two sweet sons.
2. The health of myself and my families.
3. A job that I love.
4. A nice little house that is warm, colorful and within our means.
5. A devoted dog.
6. A group of thoughtful and supportive friends.
7. Parents that are still married and who live only 5 minutes away.
8. Kind neighbors who keep juice and cookies on hand for my children.
9. Hot showers.
10. Red wine.

No mutiny on bounty, here, either. There are many blessings to count.

Cheers!
Nicole

Emilie said...

Hi! I stumbled across this post tonight, Thanksgiving evening, and smiled to see people were talking about me. :)

I like your list. At a time when I'm kind of in a dark place, little things like a good mattress and (in my case) comfy down pillows are a lot to be thankful for. I'm thankful I was able to eat at least some of the food on my plate today. I'm thankful for old movies like "The Sound of Music," which Daniel is just discovering. I'm thankful for the fact that both my parents and all my siblings are still alive and healthy. I'm thankful that we have a computer at home. I'm thankful something made me laugh today.