Thanksgiving Thoughts 2008

Every great once in awhile my bestest friend MizCyn (whose birthday it is today!) will come out of hiding and leave a comment or two - like she did yesterday - or call me at strange hours of the night to ask me random questions out of nowhere - like she did late Monday night just as I was falling asleep! I never mind when she does these things even though the alarm was set for 4:30 in order to get Amanda to the airport because she's Cyndi and I love her and because sometimes I do the same things to her!

Her question of great import the other night was "What are you thankful for this year?" and even though I had asked the same question of you, my readers, last week I hadn't answered the question myself so I had to think for a minute before I told her, "I'm happy to still be treading water." One of the best things about having a bestest friend that you've known for years and who sometimes knows you better than you know yourself is that this required no explanation at all as Cyndi knew exactly what I was talking about and said that's why she loved me and we were best friends even though we were so opposite in some ways as she was thankful for the very same thing. I knew she would understand.

Sometimes I think that's the best I'm going to do anymore - keep my head above water and not go down for the third time. When I look at the current economic situation that our country is in and see how many people are not keeping their heads above water I can't help but think that it could very easily be me in the same position - having a home in foreclosure, not having a car parked out front because it got towed away, unable to provide food and shelter for myself and my daughter ... sure, I work a lot of overtime in order to keep the lights turned on, the bills more or less paid, and Amanda in hair products but unlike a lot of other people, I have the opportunity to work that overtime at my primary job as well as pick up hours at my second job. I do know how lucky I am even when I'm working a crazy schedule that barely gives me 8 hours in between shifts to try to recharge.

I'm treading water - have been for years - and even though there are times when I'd like to just give it up and sink, I am thankful that I have the ability to stay afloat not just when it comes to finances but also with my back issues and my mental and emotional state. Maybe sometimes that's the best we can ask for because things could be so much worse and, sadly, they are for a lot of other people. And maybe ... just maybe ... sometimes it's easier to be thankful for what we don't have as opposed to what we do.

"... I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens." - President Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving Proclamation, October 3rd, 1863

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and a very Happy Birthday to Cyndi whom I am very thankful to still have as a friend after all these years and the distance that separates us. I love you!