Letters from North
America
Someone
said to me the other day
that they had more month
left than they did
money. I can feel their
pain.
It seems to me that we
just finished up with
the Fourth of July and
here we are headed into
Thanksgiving and
Christmas. What’s
happened to this year?
Where did it all go and
how come it seems as if
time is actually
speeding up each and
every year? All I know
is that each and every
month just zips by. I no
sooner get a month worth
of bills paid, then
there is another month
and I have to start all
over again. They never
seem to stop, do they?
I was writing a birthday
card to my daughter in
law yesterday and
mentioned to her that
having birthdays wasn’t
all that bad. It beats
not having one any day
of the week. I hope to
keep on having them as
long as I can. I’m sure
you feel the same.
Thanksgiving is just
around the corner and
about this time of the
year I always like to
sit back and reflect for
a few minutes about what
we have to be thankful
for. I just finished a
great book about Europe
during the Second World
War. We can be thankful
that our country has
never had to go through
that kind of
destruction. I don’t
think it is possible for
someone like me to know
what it was like to have
lived in those countries
or have fought battles
in those countries. Last
week was Veterans Day
and we certainly should
be thankful for all of
those who have fought or
served to keep this
country safe. If we were
to put ten of us into a
room and ask our
opinions of the various
wars this country has
been in, you could
probably get ten
different opinions as
well as ten different
reasons why we should
have been or should not
have been in any war or
world conflict.
The fact that we can
express those opinions
is something we should
be thankful for and
never forget.
For the most part my
health is good and for
this I’m very thankful.
My knee replacement was
successful and I’m about
up to speed once again,
but I don’t think I’ll
ever run another
marathon. Not even my
first one. I probably
won’t be able to play
the piano either…not
that I ever could in the
first place, but the
knee surgery can used
for sympathy from time
to time. Having a knee
replaced can get you a
better seat on an
airplane. At least
that’s something useful
after all the pain and
therapy. Might as well
make the best of it. I
figure I can only do
this for another couple
of months….can’t stretch
it out for a couple of
years…they offer me a
wheelchair but I’m not
at that level yet.
Another thing we should
all be thankful for is
our family and our
friends. Not a day goes
by I don’t think of all
of the people who have
made a difference in my
life and who I sincerely
love. An old (known for
a long time) friend of
mine just sent me some
photographs of him and
me together on a trip we
made after we graduated
from high school. I
probably weighed all of
115 pounds dripping
wet…..sure would like to
be back around this
again. Funny how the
time goes by so fast and
the pounds mount up as
well. I wish they came
off as easy as they went
on, but then that’s
life, isn’t it?
To me, Thanksgiving is
just about the best
holiday of the year.
Just figure out where
everyone can meet and
share some good times
together. No gifts, no
tree to hassle with and
nothing to decorate.
Just finish up the meal,
throw away the turkey
carcass and be with
those you love and
cherish.
I trust you all have
someone you love and
cherish. If you don’t
you need to find
someone….there are lots
of people out here who
need a family and a new
friend. Go out and meet
someone, invite them to
your house or manage to
get invited. Then next
year you can have
something else to be
thankful for. We’re
never too old or too
poor to be thankful for
something, no matter how
bad off we think we are.
Things could always be
worse. Thanks for our
men and women serving
our country while we
celebrate this holiday.
Comments go to
pperry@austin.rr.com
