Giving Thanks

What am I thankful for?  Here goes:

I’m thankful I was born with a sense of humor.  I don’t see how anyone can get through life without one. 

I’m thankful I’ve been able to run for the past 37 years.  I can’t imagine what I would look like, what I would be like or what I would be doing without starting each day with a run.

I’m thankful I’ve learned to roll with the punches, take the good with the bad and understand that time heals most wounds.

I’m thankful I had the presence of mind to ask Cindy out for that first date over 40 years ago.  That turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself. 

I’m thankful my family has been blessed with good health, all things considered.

I’m thankful Cindy and I both love animals.  It’s an unspoken comfort knowing your mate shares your feelings when it comes to cleaning up after a pet: That is to say, sh*t happens.

I’m thankful Cindy and I are both die-hard Florida Gators.  I can’t imagine being in a mixed marriage with a Florida State Seminole or, God forbid a Georgia Bulldog.  

I’m thankful my Aunt Freda taught me at an early age to always say ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’ ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘no sir.’  It stuck.  I know Aunt Freda is smiling every time I remember what she taught me, as well as every time I pass on her gift to someone else at an early age.

I'm thankful for the men and women of the armed forces: The active, the retired and those no longer with us.

I’m thankful for steady employment for almost 37 years.  I’m even more thankful retirement is just around the corner.

I’m thankful I no longer have a job requiring me to work on Black Friday, Black Saturday and on occasion Black Sunday. 

I’m thankful for a grandson who thinks of me as his best friends.  I know he’s mine.   

I’m thankful for the teachers who taught me how to read.  I wish more people felt the same way, or at least would make better use of their ability to read.

I’m thankful for the teachers who taught me how to add, subtract, multiply and divide.  I’m also thankful I grew up in a time when there were no calculators in the classroom.

I’m thankful I took Justin and Josh to see Michael Jordan and Dale Murphy play during the primes of their careers.

I’m thankful I saw both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods play during the primes of their careers.

I’m thankful Cindy, Justin, Josh and I were all able to see Tim Tebow when he played for the Florida Gators.  I’m thankful Cindy and I saw Emmitt Smith and Danny Wuerffel when they wore the orange and blue. 

I’m thankful for being raised by parents who gave me the tools to take care of myself when the time came and leaving me with enough great memories to keep me smiling for the rest of my life.

I’m thankful for the family I grew up with, the family I became part of through marriage, the family I acquired through my running and the extended families I became part of at the only two places I’ve ever been employed.

I’m thankful all of the moving parts still work.  Some better than others, of course.

I’m thankful I have the good sense to know when saying WTF is all that needs to be said (or thought).

I’m thankful I’m finally learning how to simply get over it, whatever ‘it’ may be.

I’m thankful I’m learning how life truly does come full circle.

I’m thankful for Lewis Grizzard, Joseph Wambaugh, Rick Reilly and all of the other writers who have influenced me through the years.   

I’m thankful when I hear myself passing along advice or encouragement that sounds oddly familiar…and then realize it’s something I heard my mom or dad say to me many, many years ago.  See!  I was listening!

I’m thankful I’ve been able to see my Florida Gators win five National Championships: Three in football and two in basketball.  I’m even more thankful I was able to see two of the Championship games in person.

I’m thankful for clean, crisp mountain air on a 40-degree day.

I’m thankful for the sound of the ocean, the sound of the rain and the sound of a good German beer being poured into a frosted mug.   

I’m thankful I decided not to pursue law school.  (As Shakespeare said, ‘The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.’)

I’m thankful for Shakespeare.

I’m thankful I always try to look on the bright side of things.

I’m thankful I was able to live in a variety of places as I was growing up.  I’m thankful I’m able to stay in one place as an adult.  I’m thankful I’ve had the best of both worlds.  

I’m thankful for the long hot shower after an early morning run in weather I have a deep affection for: Dark, cold, windy and wet: The darker, colder, windier and wetter the better.  I highly recommend it. 

I’m thankful I went to a Led Zeppelin concert when they were at their peak.  Best band ever.

I’m thankful I love to write.

I’m thankful that when I’m gone, what I’ve written will be left behind.  It will be like I never really left.