ARE THEY REALLY THANKFUL?

I was trying to get out and loosen up my hip and back. I just walked the hall. It wasn’t too bad. I am working to keep things relaxed. How does work and relax fit in the same sentence? Duh!

On one of my little hikes I heard voices upstairs so hopped on the elevator to see what was happening (I can be nosey, I guess). I was thinking I might get a conversation going about thankfulness. That didn’t happen but I think I picked up a few items of thankfulness.

We each received Thanksgiving food baskets on Monday. Some were thankful to get them and others were thankful for the freedom to throw them away. The “use by” date is January 2010 on the frozen food provided by Reser’s. They provided frozen mashed potatoes, frozen stuffing and frozen gravy. Some residents were thankful that they could be horrified something like that would even be given to us poor starving people (not).

They were also thankful they could take their complaint to the coordinator from housing that made arrangements to deliver the food. They were thankful they could drive her to frustration and tears as she was the dispenser of the food here and therefore it was her fault and how dare she even think she could dump this old food on us, of all people. No one considered blaming the food bank, the storage facility or Reser’s or the economy or themselves for not donating. Our messenger was responsible and therefore should have been thankful she was being set straight. Not one person considered that the food might still is useable, nor did they try to find out. Not one person considered returning it to the food back so it could be given to someone who really needed it.

As I am writing you, I have the gravy and stuffing in the microwave. To the horror of many I plan to try it and see what it tastes like. If I am sick later – it probably wasn’t very good. If I don’t write before Monday, maybe I died from some kind of poisoning. I think it is worth a try. I used to eat dirt and that didn’t kill me.

The stuffing and Gravy is finished so I added some veggies to try it out. It all tastes pretty good. Of course, it is too early to see if I get sick. The stuffing is a little spicier than I like, but still good. But remember, I ate dirt so may not be the best judge.

The food group was especially thankful that we got a small chicken with some freezer burn. Never mind their yelling about where the turkey was even though the paper commented on the food bank shortage of food for atl east the past week. They also announced that fewer turkeys would be available. No matter! “Where is my turkey?”

A group of ten will be here with no other place to go. No one seemed to be thankful that they had the money to go and buy all fresh ingredients for their own little turkey feast. I spoke to one organizer this morning asking if I did not go to Seattle, could I join them. “Of course, there is plenty of food.” Later in our conversation it was mentioned that one person from our building wanted to invite her friend from the other building and was told, “No, we can’t feed everyone.” The one our resident wanted to invite eats like a bird.

Well, I now have one more thing for which to be thankful. I am thankful I can leave all these “thankful” people and go to Seattle. I pray my back is better.

I just finished eating everything and am thankful I got the food. I am grateful for a food bank and those who contribute to the food bank. I am also thankful for Reser’s donation. I’m sorry the “use by” date was so offensive. I need the help.

Praise God from whom all blessing flow. If you are able, you would bless me by contributing to your local food bank. It is needed now more than ever.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I plan to spend Turkey Day with my son-in-law’s family. I have done that nearly every year since my wife passed away. They have been exceptionally kind to me all these years. I also spent Christmas with them. This developed after a few holidays were spent in Oregon with just the three of us: Rhonda, Chris (her husband) and me. Boring! Holiday celebrations are best enjoyed with a larger group,

I enjoy sitting down and considering many of the things for which I am thankful, so let me share some of those with you this year.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

I love where I live. I am thankful I am here. The Home is beautiful and the setting is terrific. Also I am close to family – about 20 minutes.

I am thankful for most of the people In The Home. Of course, there are a few whose necks I would like to break, but they gave life to this blog. One of the exceptional people is my upstairs neighbor. My back is bothering me today and I am struggling to walk. She went out in this cold miserable weather to get my insulin. I wouldn’t have asked, but she said she was going out anyway. She lied. She wasn’t going outside at all. She did it because I needed help. She is also the organizer of a Thanksgiving meal being held in our building for the 8 or 9 people who have no place to go, and she not really much of a cook. Cool, eh!

I am thankful for a van that still runs. It has its little problems: a door that rattles and a window I have taped so it won’t fall out. I suspect it will be my last car and I’m glad to have it. While I could get around without it, a vehicle means freedom for a senior as much as it does for a teen. The difference is that we drive only if we have to and rarely after dark.

Of course I am thankful for my family. My only immediate family is my daughter, son-in-law and the three grandkids. There are a lot of thing I have missed with my wife gone and one is touch. My grandkids never fail to hug me when they see me and hug me again at departure. Yeah!

I cannot forget Chris’ family as they have included me on special holidays for years. It is always fun to be with them. There are nine children running around yelling and screaming. I may have a headache at the end but it beats silence.

I am thankful for health. Mine is not perfect. Today my back is making it difficult to walk, but rest will cure that. It’s from the physical strain of the weekend. I could go through a list of things that are breaking down, but like it or not we are all moving toward the end and that process usually includes things not working like they used to. It’s part of the pattern. I am thankful for what I do have.

In regard to health, I am thankful I can still draw. After my last heart attack I developed a mild shaking in my left hand (my drawing hand). I was fearful I could no longer draw and went through a time of deciding I would rather not try and then learn I could not draw. So I decided to give it up. God is still allowing me that little pleasure. By the way, I went on line yesterday and found an art consignment site. I am in the process of signing up. Shocked, aren’t you.

I am thankful that God helped me learn that cooking was an art and not an exact science. Once I understood that simple fact, I have feed myself some pretty good food – when I want to. I am still waiting for Rachel Ray’s cookbook for 10-minute meals. I nuke much of what I eat because I don’t like waiting. I can’t imagine having to hunt down or gather my food, then building a fire to cook it. That’s an all day project, maybe even an all week challenge. We have come a long way since the pilgrims — and I am very thankful for that. I really do prefer hunting my food at the butchers.

I am thankful for your who comment from time to time. You challenge me to be better and do better. You encourage and motivate me to keep writing. You are helpful and often funny. I love humor. I try to incorporate it into my blog much of the time. I am completely aware that there are times that I am the only one who thinks I funny, but thankfully you allow the illusion to continue.

Enjoy Thanksgiving. I'll be back on Friday. I might as well. You will never again find me out shopping on Black Friday. I don;t need anything they are selling that bad. I hate crowds.