I’m Thankful For Nasal Spray, Diet Coke And Other Luxuries
I’m Grateful, Thankful, Appreciative and Oh, So Glad!
A couple of weeks ago I had a bit of a cold–nothing bad, just the usual uncomfortable symptoms. I kept my nasal spray, tissue and ibuprofen handy. Yesterday I had lunch with Pete Palmer, a long-time friend who met me in Lakewood, about a forty five minute drive from here. Last night the house felt chilly and I turned up the thermostat and reprogrammed it to come on a bit earlier this morning. A few minutes ago I checked my email while sipping a Diet Coke.
Every day I experience reasons to be thankful, so I don’t need a special day to remind me. Nevertheless, I’m thankful there is a Thanksgiving Day that focuses my attention even more. I’m grateful for the privilege of living in this country and having so many freedoms I can take them for granted. I’m especially grateful for the everyday conveniences that make life easier and more enjoyable than the hardy settlers in Massachusetts ever experienced.
In centuries to come our lives may not seem so wonderous (or this might be viewed as the last of the good times for our world). But in matters related to comfort there is no question that we are far better off than those who came before us. 
If you ever have the chance to take your family to Plimoth Plantation, do it. I visited there in November some years ago and found it to be a hauntingly interesting experience. I felt the same way about visiting the Yorktown Settlement in Virginia, but Plimoth has more to experience and more of an interactive concept. (It is near Plymouth Center, which was the actual Plymouth Settlement site.)
As I wandered through the village, I thought that it must have been extra miserable to have suffered the various disorders that humans are prone to deal with–even those that are not life threatening most of the time: A stuffy head and nose, cramps, intestinal upsets, rashes, headaches, toothaches, shingles, sunburn, arthritis, corns and callouses, allergies and dozens of other things that make us feel badly, no matter how comfortable our surroundings.
So, during this week of Thanksgiving–originally a harvest festival–I am thankful for the bounty of creature comforts I enjoy every day.
Look around right now. You have a lot to be thankful for, don’t you?
