{"id":834,"date":"2011-11-24T21:35:01","date_gmt":"2011-11-25T03:35:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/garyborders.atomicnewstools.com\/pages\/?p=834"},"modified":"2012-01-28T21:35:31","modified_gmt":"2012-01-29T03:35:31","slug":"thirty-things-im-thankful-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/garyborders.com\/pages\/thirty-things-im-thankful-for\/","title":{"rendered":"Thirty Things I’m Thankful For"},"content":{"rendered":"

Print this entry<\/a><\/p>

One of the Facebook diversions floating around lately is \u201c30 Things
\nFor Which You Are Thankful.\u201d Being grateful for one\u2019s blessings is critical to happiness, so I am happy to provide my own modest list. Just don\u2019t ask me to join Farmville or any of those other silly FB games. (For those of you who have no idea what I\u2019m talking about, in this case ignorance is, if not bliss, at least the wiser route.) So here goes.
\nI am thankful for:<\/p>\n

\u2022 My bride of five-and-a-half months, Julie, newest daughter Abbie, and my two \u201cgrown\u201d daughters, Kasey and Mere. I am constantly astounded that these four really smart, beautiful females put up with my ways \u2014 at least most of the time. They always give me joy and love, and I would be lost without them. Talk about blessings.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The family I joined when marrying my Beautiful Mystery Companion on a warm June afternoon out in the East Texas countryside. Recently, they have experienced great loss with the death of one of the clan, 20-year-old Cody Norris, while serving our country in Afghanistan. The service in La Porte, southeast of Houston, three days before Thanksgiving was both heart-wrenching and uplifting, the support from the community amazing. Still, tough times remain in those quiet days when the hubbub has ended, the flowers faded, the embraces fewer and far between.<\/p>\n

\u2022 That I was able to be at my mother\u2019s side, along with my brother Gregg and daughter Mere, when she passed away in mid-May. I did not want her to go out of this world alone, and will forever be grateful that we could all get there from out-of-town and ease her passing. I miss her.<\/p>\n

\u2022 My faith, a terrific pastor, a friendly church, and a peace about what happens next, whatever it might be. I guess part of finally growing up is learning to ride that roller coaster. Most days, I\u2019m good with that.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Good health, few aches and pains, and the ability to walk three miles daily. You quit taking such things for granted as one ages.<\/p>\n

\u2022 That I have a dog. Well, technically my BMC has the dog since we still have a commuter marriage. But Rosie the Wonder Dog loves me as unconditionally as the rest of the peeps. Sometime soon, I will tell you the story of how this little dog vanished for two weeks, and the adventures she faced until we got her back. I forgot how much joy a little creature can bring to a family. Rosie is a fine little dog and a leading candidate for Cutest Dog in the Universe. Just saying.<\/p>\n

OK, gonna start devolving into the less weighty. Fair warning as to what else I am grateful for:<\/p>\n

\u2022 The Republican presidential debates. These have provided considerable entertainment and an excuse, besides football, to keep up my cable subscription. I was an eyewitness to Rick Perry\u2019s forgetting that third federal agency he wants to eliminate. It is the first time I have felt sorry for the man. I watched yet another debate two nights before Thanksgiving. Bless their hearts. That\u2019s all I have to say.<\/p>\n

\u2022 There won\u2019t be any Democratic primary debates. Whew.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Rain. We haven\u2019t had nearly enough, but at least the skies have opened a bit.<\/p>\n

\u2022 I have gotten old and hardened enough to not mourn more than five minutes if UT loses a football game. I have bigger fish to fry.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The ubiquitous presence of excellent breakfast tacos in Austin and in my alternate domicile, East Texas. I will not prejudice you by naming favorites, because new ones pop up constantly in both locales. The rise of breakfast tacos in popularity provides me hope that Western Civilization indeed will survive. But that\u2019s just me.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Affordable GPS devices. Man, talk about saving this middle-aged
\nsoul some angst. I\u2019m thinking this is the wisest $100 I ever spent.<\/p>\n

\u2022 That I watched in person as the Boston Red Sox won Game One of the 2007 World Series. The ticket was expensive, but the way last season ended, I might be pushing 80 before they\u2019re back in it. Besides, now it\u2019s off the bucket list.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Wolf Brand turkey chili.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Satellite radio, even though I only listen to about three of the
\ngazillion choices.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The Geico commercials. They make me laugh.<\/p>\n

\u2022 None of my children turned out to be Aggies. At least not yet. (Kidding. I couldn\u2019t care less.)<\/p>\n

\u2022 Summer has finally left Texas.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Owning more books than I could ever hope to read before dying.<\/p>\n

\u2022 People with a sense of humor, like the anonymous soul who added an extra letter with duct tape to a sign I saw: It then read: Futility
\nWork Ahead. We can all relate.<\/p>\n

\u2022 I can still do math in my head.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Fried okra from Chicken Express. It\u2019s the best in the nation. We
\nget the okra and skip the chicken.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Clint Eastwood.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Dolly Parton.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Gimme caps that effectively hide my receding hairline and bald spot.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Not having to wear a necktie every day.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Never having had the urge to wear a bowtie. I\u2019m not dexterous enough to tie one properly.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Plumbers. I\u2019m dangerous with a pipe wrench.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Automatic transmissions. I am over my love affair with stick shifts.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Comfortable shoes.<\/p>\n

Finally, and seriously, I\u2019m thankful for those who take the time to read these modest offerings and send comments, critiques and kudos. Thank you, and God bless.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Print this entry<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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