Thanks for the Crib and Ride

Is there anything more pathetic than an old man trying to be hip (or hep, as we concluded that’s what we were when I worked construction in Florida)? Being guilty as charged, I think not. But the gratitude I have for the classic condominium Mary and I call home, and for the virtually emission-free Prius that I drive is not diminished by poorly attempting to employ the jargon of the day. As I go through my daily routine preparing for work—fitness center, indoor plumbing to accommodate daily necessities and their cleanup, breakfast from a well-stocked pantry, clothing from a walk-in closet, etc—I try to be very intentional about taking none of these things for granted and reminding myself that I live in a kind of luxury that most peoples of the world cannot even dream of. I confess that when I’m caught in Las Vegas’ rolling parking lot designated US 95 that’s not when gratitude for a car to drive is most likely to pop up, but now that nearly twelve years of construction is finished and it’s a breeze to and from work I cannot afford to forget just how fortunate I am. I, like the majority of American citizens, have so much for which to be grateful this coming Thursday; so, it may not be a bad idea to adopt a thankful attitude a little ahead of time so that it’s in full gear by the time the day arrives.