Thanksgiving 2004

There are really a lot of things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Maybe not the shape of the crust on that pumpkin pie, but still, I think there are lots of other things. Here's a list, in the order that they pop into my head, that I'm thankful for today.

Having today off. I have a lot of vacation days because I've worked for the same company for a lot of years. Today I chose to take one of those days. I'm thankful that I have a lot of vacation days to take, and I'm thankful that I can pretty much choose to take them when I want.

I'm thankful that I have my health. A year ago I didn't have any idea what was in store for me, and actually I still don't, but I can at least say that due to the diligence and competence of a surgeon and cardiologist, I'm still breathing, and doing quite well today. That's definitely something to be thankful for.

I'm thankful that I live right next to Lake Seminole Park. I think the surgeon and cardiologist would be thankful for that too. If I didn't, I can't imagine that I'd be walking half as much as I do. See here.

I'm thankful that I have two great sons. They're hugely different from each other, but that's a good thing. Both of them could have really been just a little bit more like the other one, but I'm hugely happy (thankful) they are who they are. They both, consistently and in completely different ways, thrill me over and over again, and they probably don't even know it. Good. (So I guess I'm thankful for that, too.)

I'm thankful I live in Florida. This was not a part of a plan, it just happened. Moved to South Carolina and then to Florida for the company. I'm thankful though, because when I looked at the thermometer early this morning and saw that it was 66°, I thought that was kind of chilly. In late November. Enough said.

I'm thankful I found AnySoldier.com. I'm very happy (thankful) to say that I am one of those responsible for the announcement today by General Abizaid requesting our very lame Congress to help stop unsolicited mail to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have to say that while I support the agenda of the General in general (and that's a great thing to say), I have no sympathy for him here. This is a serious declaration of the average American citizen that they support the troops. That they really support the troops. Deal with it, General. If this is your biggest problem, then I think I have a problem. This should be a problem you'd want to have. It hasn't always been this way. Think back.

I'm very thankful that I'm going through this part of my life with the person who is truely my soul mate. I don't know if this sort of thing happens very often, but I would have to guess it's not. She's frequently infuriating and always contrary. But she's always there. I guess I need the impetus. Anyway, I'm thankful for her. And she doesn't even like pumpkin pie. We'll see. This one might turn her around. Or not.