It’s Thanksgiving Week once again, the time to gear up for overeating and football, the time to take a moment to remember to be grateful for all that we have in life.
Usually, that means remembering the "Big Picture" items. The Bremner family is ending another year with food in the ‘frig and a roof over our heads. The children are healthy and Mrs. B. has gone another year without deciding to run off with the gardener, which, thankfully, we don’t even have.
But this year my gratitude goes far beyond the big picture. This year, I’m even thankful for the little things.
I’m grateful for my dog. Every day when I come home from work, she’s standing there, looking at me and wagging her tail feathers. I look at her and say hello, at which point her ears go straight up and her back end hits high gear.
That’s it.
She doesn’t want to go anywhere. She doesn’t need money. She doesn’t want me to decide who should have the remote or who saw the crayons first. She doesn’t even remind me that I didn’t pick up the milk. She just stands there and wags, content only in the knowledge that I have indeed graced her with my presence.
What’s not to like about that?
I’m grateful for heated seats. I’ve never owned a vehicle with heated seats, and when I bought my 2001 Jeep earlier this year I didn’t even realize it had wired cushions.
But when I pushed the little button by the radio with the squiggly lines on it suddenly the term “Hot Crossed Buns” took on new meaning.
I’m also grateful for my “Magic Closet.” That’s the door I open every Monday morning to find my pants and shirts magically pressed and hung neatly in a row.
(Okay, my wife reminded me of this one, but I am grateful still).
I’m thankful for a hot water tank that can handle two kid showers in the morning and still have a little warmth left over for Dad.
And given the weather forecasts this week, I’m especially grateful that, after a spark plug change and a little engine spray, my snow blower finally started this year.