Give Thanks...Friends

 

Out of the blue a friend sent an e-mail to a gang of friends. I was fortunate to be included in the recipients. The message was wonderful, but then something better happened...each of us in turn responded and we added to the thread. I now have a digital copy of some incredible thoughts and emotions and most of all, memories.

Last month we were challenged to post things for which we were grateful and to use the hashtag: #GiveThanks when doing it. For a week, everything I posted included the hashtag. After a week of not posting #GiveThanks posts, I kind of missed doing it, so I'm going to include a #GiveThanks post at least once a week (unless I forget and post something else...). Today I wanted to give thanks for my friends.

To say I have had great friends in my life is an understatement. They have literally saved my life, at least, had they not been there, I wouldn't be where I am today. First, Jim sent the initial e-mail. He had been going over a journal he kept in high school and he felt moved (or inspired...) to reach out to that group of guys who made such a difference in his life. I felt I needed to respond and so I did. I explained how I mooched my way into that group and what a difference it made for me during a tough time.

A few days later, another e-mail came, then another. I think everyone has chimed in--I don't know if they did so because they felt obligated, or just wanted to let us all know how they felt, most likely the latter. They too shared experiences and memories and gave thanks for us friends.

I'm so glad Jim reached out. I think each of us wished we could get together to hang out, and if I had my way, it would be in my old house listening to Rush LPs on our Realistic HiFi, pumped through the ancient speakers my dad built.

But, the house has new owners, the HiFi is long gone, but I still have those incredible speakers. The biggest problem in us getting together is where we live. Several still reside along the Wasatch Front. I moved an hour away. One lives on the west cost and one in the middle of the country. Even without covid, it would be tough to get together. We did the next best thing--wrote messages to each other via e-mails.

When you go through a collective experience like school or the military or a mission, you bond with those people. It's one of the things I most like about being a human. Others may have empathy, but they'll never truly understand because they weren't there with the people that shared life during those times.

Tonight--and hopefully, every day for the rest of my life--I give thanks for my friends, past and present, here and no longer with us. Part of who I am is due to their influence...I hope they can live with that ;)

Give Thanks...Day 4--Pets

Last week, I heard a talk given by the leader of our church. He challenged us to post only uplifting things, things for which we are thankful, and to use the hashtag, GiveThanks in our posts. The challenge is to last seven days. Today, is Day 4.

I chose pets.

I've not always been a pet guy. As little kids we had first a cat, Lucy (that ran away to the cat lady's house down the street...), then Waldo--a big black lab that was too much dog for my mom and three little kids.

We then got Tasha, a shih tzu/sneaky neighbor dog mix, and that was a wonderful pet for our family. Tasha lived for seventeen years. She survived my teenage years, my college years, and the first couple of years of my marriage. We all loved Tasha and it was bittersweet when we had to put her down. She was such a tough little dog, she could no longer walk when we had to make that decision.

My wife is a cat person, so we got cats. I have come to not only appreciate cats, but enjoyed them being around...except when they're kittens and the scratch up your arms and legs to the point where a person could play tic-tac-toe on the scratches if one wished.

The thing about pets is they become totally dependent upon their owners. Maybe that's why we love them so much (and why, at times, they can drive us crazy...). The world of a pet is defined by us humans. We--usually--dictate where they live, how much space they get, what they eat, and so forth. Maybe that's why they love us so much (and why, at times, we can drive them crazy...).

During the past couple of years, we had to put down a cat we rescued from the street. Gracie was a gift, a wonderful pet and companion. Then, our dog Patch was next. She was the dog that grew up with our kids. Absolutely gut-wrenching. The pain is in direct relation to what they mean to us.

We now have two cats and a dog. Tonight, my son's dog curled up at my daughter's feet. How special is that? It's just one reason why I'm thankful for pets.

#GiveThanks...Day 1--Family

It's amazing how two little, single-syllable words can make such a big difference.

Give Thanks

This morning the leader of my church delivered a message. It was sweet. It was succinct. It was needed. For the next seven days President Nelson challenged us to post only uplifting messages on social media and to use the hashtag GiveThanks with our posts. He suggested that at the end of those seven days, we would feel different (you can watch his message by clicking: HERE...).

I'm betting he's right.

Since I write a daily post, I'm going to consider--then write about--things of which I am thankful. I'm not placing them in any order of importance, only to have them included. To be honest, I could write everyday about things for which I am thankful--I could write every minute for the rest of my life and never run out of things to include.

Fifteen years ago, I wrote up a family Christmas letter and I included the above photo of the kids and our dog, Patch. It was taken in the winter (hence, the Christmas lights up on our porch...). I can't believe it's been that long. Several years later, we took a picture from the same vantage point. So much had changed between the two pictures, and so much has changed between then and now. The adorable dog is no longer with us, nor is that any longer our house. My eldest is married and has begun an adventure of his own, and, well...we're all older.

I can't imagine my life without these four. They made/make me a father, a provider, a teller of "dad jokes." The things the have taught me, the memories, the wisdom, the love, the trials and the triumphs...all part of the deal, a deal I wouldn't trade for all the money in the world.

Tonight, I give thanks for them. I pray I may be worthy of their love and respect. God is great to give me such an opportunity.

Being Thankful In 2018...

This morning, before I went to work, I spotted one of our cats in the sink waiting for us to turn on the water so he could get a drink.

What does this have to do with Thanksgiving?

Good question.

We have four pets living under our roof, four animals that are under our care. Without us, the cats might be able to survive on their own--cats are good at things like that. The dogs, however, well...they seem to need people more than the cats.

I have no idea what the pets think about us. If they even understand the concept of thankfulness, it's on a very basic level. But we're thankful for them. They can be pains sometimes, but their good points far exceed their bad. 

That's the way things go. We appreciate things, but only so far. We probably won't appreciate the pets until they're no longer with us. The trick is to be grateful for what you have while you have it.

Tomorrow we gather and eat and talk and nap and maybe watch some football on TV. The cats and dogs will do all that, too. Except they won't understand football and they'll nap more than we will. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, everyone, including your furry ones.