Be Thankful

Had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner tonight. Turkey, roast beef, and of course, green bean casserole. Food with family, friends back home...certainly reasons to be thankful.

I know some people have been updating their daily Facebook status with something for which they are grateful. Other people follow a tradition of taking turns at the the dinner table  sharing what makes them thankful. TV movies often have a touching moment where the main character gives a tender speech about how the past year has been so blessed.  But do we need anything so grand? We are often so quick to complain about politics or the weather, gas prices or a sports score. Life is full of "could-a, would-a, should-a." Our lives might not be what we dreamed of as children, but take an honest look at your surroundings. And then compare your life to people on the East Coast recently, or to those in a war-torn country, or to someone just down the street from you. 

Are your eyes open? (Obviously, if you're reading this.) Is your heart beating?
Be thankful.
Are you sleeping under a roof tonight?
Be thankful.
Did you talk to someone else today, either face-to-face or on the phone, or even electronically?
Be thankful.
Did you eat something today? Maybe a big turkey dinner, or maybe just a sandwich?
Be thankful.
Did you have a glass of water, maybe even coffee, soda, or a cocktail?
Be thankful.
Is there a light on where you are? Maybe even multiple electronic devices?
Be thankful.
Did something or someone make you smile today?
Be thankful.
Do you have more than one or two items of clothing in your closet and dresser?
Be thankful.
Do you expect to be around tomorrow?
Be thankful.

Things go wrong sometimes. There are circumstances beyond our control. And at other times, we make mistakes. But that's what life is like. It's a jumble of good, bad, and ugly.

But we had today. And for that, I must always remember to be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

They're Grrrreat!

Well, how 'bout that? I'm a great-aunt! Not once, but twice...in the same week! Extra cool when you consider that the mothers are twin sisters.

But wait a minute. Aren't great-aunts old? I didn't know any of mine very well. I'd see most of them once or twice a year. The ones "in town" maybe more often. But when I was young, it wasn't easy trying to remember who was who. Which side, Mom's or Dad's? Then--again--which side, Grandma's or Grandpa's? Then add their spouses to the mix... But I seem to remember that they were almost always referred to as a couple. You couldn't mention one without naming the other.

For me, it's another one of those life milestones. It's one thing when your siblings start having kids. I remember how excited I was to be an aunt as a college freshman! But when those kids start having kids of their own, it's a whole new ballgame. No more denying that the "little kids" are all full-fledged adults. The family tree keeps branching out.

One thing I know for sure if I want to be a great great-aunt (well, two things): I'd better learn how to play Sheepshead and it may be time to give my hair a blue rinse!

What I Hate About Elections

I believe that voting is a right that many Americans take for granted. I know that I haven't always taken it as seriously as I should. Even though it can seem like my single vote can't possibly have much impact, it would be disastrous if everyone felt that way and just stayed home on election day. Can you even imagine what it would be like to not have a say in how your country is governed? To just have to accept whatever those in power decide? *shakes head*

Our government is far from perfect. There can be little disagreement on that. We, as private citizens, can simply get involved to the best of our ability and support elected officials who want the same things for our nation as we do. Though I surely don't need to remind anyone, please get out and vote!

That being said, election time can certainly get on one's nerves. I don't want to minimize its importance, but the season lasts even longer than the retail industry's Christmas shopping season (and that seemed to start even before all the back-to-school supplies were off the shelves). I'll be glad that tomorrow, barring any hanging chads, we'll have an idea of the direction our country will be taking during the next four years. That's the big thing. But I must admit that I'll be similarly pleased that the trappings of the season will be done.

• Robocalls: Surely one of the most hated marketing tools, if only for their frequency. Unfortunately, live callers don't score much higher in my book. Thank goodness for an answering machine and for caller ID. A phone call is not in any way going to influence my decision. Trust me: Don't call us. We'll call you.
• Mailers: This is usually just a waste of paper. I'm not saying that all mailed advertisements are useless. But if I see it's candidate-related, I'm likely to toss it without reading it. When I skim them, I usually see only exaggerations and half-truths. Sure, there are footnotes proving the source of the statistics. But we all know that facts can be manipulated and "spun" to make your point.
• TV Ads: Let's pull the image of our candidate at his best and the other guy at his worst.  Then let's add an out-of-context sound bite. Ads can certainly bring issues to our attention and prompt us to look for more impartial information. But just like a single commercial isn't going to determine how I spend my money on a major purchase, I'm not going to cast my vote based on which ad I like best.
• The "Other" Guy: Speaking of ads... It seems to me that the majority of ads I see and hear try to make me aware of everything "the other guy" did. (And, of course, I include female candidates, as well. In this case, "guy" does not refer to either gender in particular.) He voted against this! She supported this action! They don't care about what you want! How about you tell me what you have done and why? What do you want to accomplish?
• Hatred: I think Candidate X is best. You prefer Candidate Y. Fair enough. Perhaps we can discuss why we hold those opinions, though neither is likely to change their mind. You are all welcome to post a status, hang a sign, cheer at a rally, or wear a t-shirt reflecting your choice. Just remember that every other citizen has the same right. Name-calling, bullying, and insulting are uncalled for and childish. When you spout venom, it really reflects the worst on you.
• Premature Results: I check in periodically on election results. It's interesting to see the trends and how they can change throughout the evening. But my biggest pet peeve is when the media starts "calling it" so early in the night. Can you really determine the outcome with, say, 10 percent of the vote counted? Really? Perhaps historically those early returns are indicative of the final result. But I'd rather just see the actual numbers and wait to hear the winner's name when it's definite.

In spite of all the negatives I associate with elections, I tolerate them for the greater good. Voting is a right and a privilege. I am proud to be an American, and I am proud to have voted today.