From Jim
Today is God’s gift to Bloggers everywhere. The title and content are a near requirement in this land of plenty. I had sent Paul Levine a police video I found amusing last week and he replied “I see a blog in this.” It was a great idea so I started to learn how to upload from Youtube so I could post other videos I liked. Unfortunately, only the super smart Cornelia Read has mastered this art. As I cursed Blogger and Youtube after failed attempts to figure this technological abyss, I realized my usual Thursday blog goes up on Thanksgiving; one of the great days in the American calendar. A day off from the daily grind with the State of Florida generously throwing in Friday for good measure, a big meal and family equals a holiday I can get behind with stomach, heart and mind. A smaltzy, ready-made blog-post is just a bonus.
When I think about the big picture of time, location, history and circumstance, I know I hit the cosmic jackpot. Most Americans have. I can’t speak for any other countries but they’re not celebrating Thanksgiving. I can’t really speak for most Americans but I still think I’m correct in the following reasoning:
We were all born in one of the most comfortable, safest, calmest places and times in the history of the world. Considering I could have been just as easily born in 1837 in India or 1754 in China or 1939 in Paris, I have is easy. Even if I was born in my real hometown of West Palm Beach in 1911, I’d have had to deal with a world without air conditioning, when robber barons still held tremendous sway, the justice system was near arbitrary and, if I got sick, I’d be about as well served from the Benny Hinn of the time as I would have been by a medical doctor.
It’s the little things that add up to the lives we experience here, today, as opposed to the lives we would’ve lived just a few short years ago perhaps just a few hundred miles form where we live now.
I know things aren’t perfect. Here’s a flash: They never have been. In the history of the world there is always something that’s screwed up. Usually in a big way. If it’s not the Romans conquering the world, it’s the Bubonic plague rampaging through Europe. If the Nazis aren’t following a madman the Irish are having problems raising potatoes. As Rosanna-Rosanna Danna used to say, “it’s always something.”
I’m thankful for the simple fact that God decided to plop me down in the United States in the latter part of the twentieth century. The bonuses after that include parents who were reasonable, schools that taught me the basics, children that bring me joy and jobs that have made me feel useful.
It’s easy to want fame, fortune, and all kinds of other perks but one thing I’ve noticed is that most of the people I admire are pretty happy with where they found themselves and what they did with the resources available to them.
On this simple holiday with an easy message to grasp, what are you thankful for?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Jim,
ReplyDeleteYou are the embodiment of American values. Family. Faith. Automatic weapons.
Seriously, I admire your optimism. I'm one who needs to be reminded to count my blessings.
One. Two. Uh...
Happy Thanksgiving
Lovely post, Jim. A few days ago I finished my work for the day, sort of (there's always a bit more to do here and there), walked along the hallway, stepped over the dog, who was languishing in wait between my office and my husband's, and checked in with him to see if he'd finished work. So, having both wound up our words, we loaded the dog in the car to go to the park. Watching our old dog, Sally, amble around the park, I turned to my husband and said, "Good life, isn't it?"
ReplyDeleteAnd it is, it's a good life.
Happy Thanksgiving.
I'm thankful that I'm invited to dinner with friends, and I don't have to cook. Just one item on a long list of thankful-fors.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite Thanksgiving memories......The time we all went around the room and told what we were thankful for; my brother said, "I'm thankful I didn't get caught."Then he refused to say anything more throughout the day......Or, the time I overheard my sister during mid-meal turn to mom and say, "See mom, I told you they wouldn't notice that the Turkey was past expiration date. You were worried for nothing."
ReplyDeleteWell today's the day the Lions may roar and the Jets may soar...the Trojans may protect their QB and the Dirty Birds may come clean.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT THANKSGIVING IS TRULY ABOUT.......I'm thankful for a full day of football:Thanksgiving is a traditional American Holiday where families all over the United States sit for dinner at the same time---Halftime.
Jon
Beautiful post, Jim, and I hope you and yours have a wonderful feast today.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to upload something from youtube, copy the string of weird stuff from the little "embed code" window next to your chosen video, then paste it in here. It won't show up on the "compose" version of the post-composition window, but you'll see the html in the "edit html" view, and the mini TV screen will show up when you check the "preview" mode.
Happy Thanksgiving, Jim, and thanks for a wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful that I'm not fixing a Swanson Turkey dinner this year--two years in a row!
'm grateful for good stories well told, and the people who tell them.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving from a fellow writer and passionate reader.
Yes, there should be a capitol letter "I" up there, somewhere... :P
ReplyDeleteI'm thankful to be on a blog like this.
ReplyDeleteJust checking in from the Florida Keys.
Dinner and games are done and so am I.
Jim