Being Grateful

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD8fu3Et7xq0B73b5jnmHSe0zNkZQiXJUbfMuDEBBTeWK3-EDKQOTM8VG73hyphenhyphenLSbU1e4REOLdL1UDpLBsE90Xp4I9H0wG3lB1DSHnuJiYT1XlFu3EEOyGl6SBqCMNI1V137qOx5VRpG-s/s1600/november+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5czFS0NOWnAFokeUxW4dpp3mvewk9PI2SmNuAIuIfxZ-3ZoMy3qUHBjoPFrp9RSPjAjHgbcUdDkXaVsCgxzXLZQDaclLJHFHbzQTM3qVylN6gGiZ2HWGs-F7D-UtVg_M1QhJb7OC2nnU/s1600/winter2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="being grateful, giving thanks, thanksgiving" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5czFS0NOWnAFokeUxW4dpp3mvewk9PI2SmNuAIuIfxZ-3ZoMy3qUHBjoPFrp9RSPjAjHgbcUdDkXaVsCgxzXLZQDaclLJHFHbzQTM3qVylN6gGiZ2HWGs-F7D-UtVg_M1QhJb7OC2nnU/s320/winter2013.jpg" title="" width="191" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8T0akXDc1LTnils6qCeg4BW8atl2H2foWYWBjt98Ampqy2i6G4pgCA0MhlGaCh-7Vd1VpxBYcH81hona9pKtDX-a8SXx4pdoVW6hAQjUB4-EngI9fV_8hQxgX5K7mbQuJ3Wxnrv-b2w/s1600/jan+1+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><div align="center"></div><br />With winter setting in, and Thanksgiving approaching, I'm getting excited for the holidays. Lots of people are sharing what they're grateful for, so I wanted to share a story with you all. It's about my Mom and Dad.<br /><br />My parents are<em> the best</em> - and I love them very, very much. I'm especially grateful to them because they make me laugh every single day. It's not as if they tell jokes. No. They just <em>Do And Say Funny Things</em>. Today is no different. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Here is the Story</strong></div><br />My Dad retired this year. Mom retired several years ago, and has had the house to herself five days a week. Now they're both retired and at home. Together. All the time.<br /><br />My sister and I were a little worried about how they would get along being together all day, every day. You know, people get used to their schedule and their own space. And then suddenly, like so many couples after retirement, they're thrown back together, 24/7.<br /><br />It's got to be an <em>adjustment</em>. <br /><br />Not to mention, my Mom and Dad are somewhat different from one another. Dad likes to watch Cops, Mom likes to watch Millionaire. Dad likes to cut down trees, Mom likes to plant trees. Dad likes to buy tools, Mom likes to buy shoes. These seem like inconsequential differences, but think of the potential for conflict! <br /><br />Yes, we were a little worried. <br /><br />Yet it <em><u>appears</u></em> we were worried about nothing. My Mom and Dad seem to be having fun. They're having an addition built. They go shopping. They go out to lunch. That's what they tell us anyway. <br /><br />Seems all is going well.<br /><br />Yesterday, secure in this fact, I felt the urge to chat about Thanksgiving, so I called my Mom. It was late afternoon, and I pictured my Dad in his big chair by the fire, and Mom making him dinner while we chatted. <br /><br />We hit all the side dishes - my sister is bringing a pear and sweet potato bake, I'll make the green bean casserole. We talked about relatives - and who may or may not be coming. We talked turkey - the size of the bird, and method of cooking. <br /><br />We were mid-turkey-talk, and just about to talk <em>PIE.</em> <br /><br />Abruptly my Mom stopped and said (seriously and with some urgency): <br /><em></em><br /><em>"Honey, I'll call you right back. I just remembered, I have to let Dad out of the basement."</em> <br /><br />And she hung up. <br /><br />And I laughed, and immediately called my sister. <br /><br />What's making you laugh today? <br /><br />

Being Grateful

     With winter setting in, and Thanksgiving approaching, I'm getting excited for the holidays. Lots of people are sharing what they...

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