Gratitude

Most of us have many things to be grateful for at any time during our lives. And most of us fail to recognize those things, opting instead to complain about what we don't have. I have definitely been guilty of complaining when I should've been saying, "Thank you."

Today, the first thing I have to be grateful for is my wife. Because of my spinal deterioration and its accompanying pain, and my diminished lung capacity, I'm literally no longer able to take care of myself. She does things for me that I used to easily do, and she has never wavered in her devotion. If not for her, I don't know where I'd be right now.

I'm also grateful to the pharmaceutical companies that created the anti-biotics I'm taking now, as I was diagnosed with pneumonia on last Friday. It's the second November in a row that I've come down with this disease. I certainly hope it's not a permanent pattern. Although we had a pleasant Thanksgiving, my breathing was labored in a way I've come to recognize. So when I went to my family physician the next day, I wasn't totally surprised at the diagnosis.

I'm further grateful for the anti-depressants available to people like me. If there had only been this medication when I was much younger, I could've saved myself considerable grief. As I look back over the years and see how depressed I was at different points in my life, I can only shake my head.

I'm grateful, too, for several friends I've made over the years. Some of them go back over 40 years, which is hard to imagine when I don't believe my age. But these long-time friends keep in touch, and every time I talk to one of them, it's like we just left off yesterday. These relationships are pure gold.-

Finally, I'm grateful that even though I wasn't a great father, my son continues to care how I'm doing and checks on me regularly. He's come a long way. This is just a short gratitude list, but I'm sure I'll be able to extend it if I concentrate. In any case, I'm off to another medical appointment. Have a wonderful weekend.