Thanks
This subject might seem a little early, since its a week before Thanksgiving, but then again it isn't.
I went to the grocery store today to shop for Thanksgiving dinner.
I came home and as my mom & I were putting away groceries, I surveyed what we had to see what we still needed - well, wanted is really the term. I saw that we had just about everything. Plenty of food, meat, bread, milk, juice, cheese, other stuff. My mom and I were talking at the time about how good it was that I got some of this shopping done early before the weekend rush at the store and then the craziness of next week with people shopping for their dinner. My mom mentioned how people were probably just getting paid today & tomorrow, and cause the big rush, and how some people may not get checks till next week. She mentioned how it really sucks when you have to wait for your paycheck to get your food.
I nodded in response. I remember the days when I was a kid and my dad would need his check just to do the grocery shopping. Money was a little tight with a stay at home wife and 2 kids. But we never wanted for anything.
Then I thought about folks who don't have money to buy a turkey, let alone even choose what kind they wanted - frozen, fresh, whole, just the breast - whatever. That's when I realized how much food we had and how lucky we are.
Then I thought about how nice it was that I was in a house, with a working furnace, with my cat whose health seems tobe really good after our little cancer scare of earlier this summer (no relapses since -knock on wood!). I remembered how I don't have to swallow my pride, stand somewhere with a sign, or cup, and hope someone throws a bit of change into it. I have a beautiful car. I have the ability to earn the money to pay for it. I'm healthy. My mom is in decent health too at 71 yrs.
There's a sign posted on the door of the Jewel where I go grocery shopping - about a man, I think 22 years old, and is coming home from his tour in Iraq. There's a homecoming for him in the city here. He lost both his legs and one of his arms while there.
I have my eyes. I have my hands and fingers. I get to knit and talk with people. I get to type this sentence.
Yesterday, I felt really shitty - probably because of my reaction to the consistently gloomy weather. And in part due to my own internal bullshit, so I was throwing myself a pity party. I thought about what I wanted and didn't have. Today, I think the God & Goddess are giving me their two cents on that issue by opening my eyes.
I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I also realize that for me, every day is Thanksgiving.