The Home Planet: It’s a great time to count our many blessings

Well, it’s time.

It’s Thanksgiving and that means it’s time to sit down and show a little gratitude. And let me tell you, I’ve got a lot to be grateful for.

When I think about my children, I’m full of gratitude for the fact that it’s already the end of November and so far nothing obvious has been pierced and their teachers will still make eye contact. That’s progress.

I’m grateful that my teenagers who, although they would rather be somewhere – or anywhere – other than stuck in the room with me, will still sit down beside me occasionally and help me do something cool with my high-tech cell phone, digital camera, notebook computer and television remote. And by that I mean things like make a call, take a picture, find a file and change the channel. I don’t know what I would do without them.

I feel so fortunate to still have some of my children living with me and helping around the house. Without them the place would take on a tidy, well-kept look with nothing on the floor but a rug. There would be dry towels hanging in the bathroom and the sink wouldn’t always be full of dirty dishes. The cats would be reduced to eating only what is in their bowls instead of grazing on what has been left out on the counter. Who wants to live like that?

When I think about my house I’m grateful that all the toilets are flushing again, the dog got over his little intestinal problem and we found the source of that funny smell in the basement. (I’m pretty sure the last two aren’t related.)

I’m glad the limbs that broke out of the trees in last week’s storm didn’t go all the way through the roof and I’m grateful for a bathroom door that locks.

On a personal note, when I take off my glasses and stand in front of a mirror to count my blessings one thing comes to mind immediately: Thank God I can’t see a thing without my glasses.

Thinking about work, I’m not just grateful to have a job, I’m especially thankful that nobody, particularly one of the people who sign my checks, was there to see me trip and fall headlong into the elevator assuming what is known in yoga as the “downward facing dog” position. The fact that no one was there to witness the slow process as I lumbered to me feet is an added blessing.

Thursday, when I sit down to more food than I can possible eat, in a room that is warm and dry, with a family that is healthy and reasonably happy, I’ll be taking more than a slice of turkey.

I’m going to take a moment to think about what I’ve got.

And any way you look at it, I’ve got a lot to be thankful for.