The day after -

Yesterday, of course, was Thanksgiving Day. It is the time, once each year, where we Americans stop - or at least are supposed to - and give thanks for our many blessings. According to most, it began in the early 1600's, as Pilgrims began the practice of celebrating a Harvest festival as was customary in Europe at the time.

Over the years since, Thanksgiving Day has morphed into what it is today, a National Day of thanks for our many blessings - and on the lesser side of things, a day to stuff ourselves with Turkey and the many accompanying foods that make up our feast of the day; watch football; and prepare for the onslaught of "Black Friday", the horrendous start of Christmas gift buying.

As I awoke today, I thought of just how fortunate I - and my family are. Though none of us are wealthy, we live rather comfortably compared to the majority of the world. Yet, like most, I find myself complaining almost daily about some little thing or another. Today, it was about how cold it was outside when I walked down my driveway to get the morning newspaper. I temporarily forgot that I had this rather large home I lived in that sheltered me from the cold outside - a cold that many of our homeless had to face last night without any type of roof over their head.

I also didn't give a second thought to the fact that all I had to do was press a button and my garage door opened magically, thereby enabling me to avoid lifting that incredibly hefty door physically AND cutting the distance I had to walk to & from the paper in the driveway in half.

Nor did I think of the blessing I have in being able to afford to subscribe to the daily newspaper - instead of having to find a days-old one. Or, the fact, that I could read at all - something that many in the world can't do.

As the morning progressed a bit, I became upset when my wife told me her car wouldn't start as the battery was dead - she'd have to use mine. Not for a second did I give thanks that we had two cars which enabled her to not miss her appointment.

All I described occurred in a relatively short period of time this morning and I'm sure there will be other things that transpire throughout the day that I forget to recognize, or give thanks for. Just as there will be tomorrow and the 364 days until next Thanksgiving Day.

It will also happen to all who read this.

I suppose it is human nature to complain when something doesn't meet our satisfaction, but should we reserve our gratitude for only one day a year? We all know the answer to this question. We just don't practice it.

Old Fart Mike