The turkey has been decimated like an old folks home during the Zombie Apocalypse.
The same can be said for the mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and Aunt Helen's (or is it Aunt Marie's) Vegetable Dish made by Sister Here.
Yep.
The zombies be stuffed.
So an hour ago I stumbled out into an early winter morning to take Phlegm the Taurus to the car doctor.
Annnnnnnnnd he won't start.
That's when the surprise came.
I was still thankful.
Now that's pretty strange, knowing my temperament and heritage.
I should have been muttering or possibly loudly professing things I learned from Grampa D, my dad.
My dad was a WWII sailor and drywall contractor.
Yeah.
He didn't quote Shakespeare much.
Huh.
The sky remained blue and the air wasn't.
But I was, and still am, thankful.
Weird, right?
I was thankful we had a 2nd car and jumper cables.
That there was leftovers in the fridge for breakfast while I waited.
And that there was no wind and it was above 0 outside.
I was even thankful that's only a six block drive to the car shop.
And that Phlegm made it.
Without stopping.
Wow.
I can see where this whole thankfulness thing could become a habit.
A life-long experiment in, well, joy.
It brings to mind the story I heard about a little country church on Thanksgiving Sunday.
The pastor asked folks in his small congregation to stand and share what they were thankful for.
There were the typical things you would expect in church:
salvation,
healing,
family,
friends,
prosperity.
And one chubby little kid was thankful for pie.
All kinds of pie.
VERY thankful indeed.
Then this little wisp of an old lady stood up. Her voice was clear and strong as her homely, crinkled face glowed with gratitude.
"Pastuh, I be so very thankful for mah teeth."
That said, she sat back down.
The pastor stared at her, his jaw dropping a little, his mouth sagging open as he looked at the old woman smiling back at him.
It was a smile that was 98% leathered gums.
The teeth, like youthful dreams, left years ago, bowing to the harsh realities of age.
"But, Buelah -", stammered the perplexed parson, "You have only two teeth!"
The little woman stood up and raised a small hand in praise as her face beamed.
"Yeah, Pastuh, n' Praise-DA-LORD! They right on toppa each uther!"
Enjoy the day.
Find that thankfulness for those little things as well as the big.
Have a Buelah-Day, eh?