#481 Be Thankful

this week's message on my work letter board

My last post talked about feeling blessed, so now I want to broach the topic of being thankful.  Just in time for Thanksgiving. 

This morning I woke up at 5 a.m. to go to a class at my gym, as I sometimes do.  I have the routine down and get things ready the night before.  In the morning all I have to do is brush my teeth, get dressed, throw my bags in the trunk, and go.  One of the bags is my gym bag.  The other is my backpack, in which I carry my lunch, a book, reading glasses and my cell phone, among other things. 

Lately I’ve been checking the Waze App on my way to/from work to gauge the traffic situation.  This morning after I closed the trunk of my car, I realized I hadn’t checked Waze.  I decided not to check; it was 5:30 a.m.  There shouldn’t be any traffic. 

If I had re-opened the trunk to get my cell phone out of my backpack, I would have realized that my backpack was still in my house.  Since I didn’t do that (and didn’t pay attention that the Bluetooth sign wasn’t on my car screen), I found out after I got to the gym, some 20 minutes later.

My first instinct was to go home immediately and skip my workout.  But wait!  Since my class was so early, I could do it and would have time to shower, drive home, and still be on time for work.  The one good thing about an early class.  

Despite the “rocky” beginning, my plan was falling into place.  Until I drove closer to my street and saw numerous flashing lights.  There were fire trucks everywhere and no one was able to turn into or out of my street.  I parked on the side of the main road in the grass, and decided to walk to my house to retrieve my backpack. 

As I walked, I saw what had happened – one of the houses had caught fire, with a gaping hole on the side spewing smoke.  Neighbors were huddled in their front yards, some still in robes.  I stopped long enough to talk to a few women.  They didn’t think anyone was inside.  I continued walking down the street and as I passed the cars that had lined up to get out, each person rolled down their window to ask what was going on.  I relayed the small amount of information I knew, and told them they wouldn’t be getting out soon.  I finally got my backpack, walked back to my car, and was on my way.  Despite the fire delay, I made it to work about five minutes early. 

Sometimes our day doesn’t go as planned.  Today it was my backpack.  Tuesday it was my underwear (which is why I always keep a spare set in a zip lock baggie in my gym bag – I’ve had a forgetful week!).  Usually it’s something trivial and not life-altering.  It’s ok to be annoyed, but try to keep in mind that unless someone has been seriously hurt or died, it’s not that big of a deal.  This morning I was thankful I was able to participate in my gym class.  I was thankful I was able to go back to get my backpack.  (And even if I hadn’t, I would have survived the day.)  I was thankful no one was hurt in the house fire.  I was thankful it wasn’t my house that had burned.  I was thankful I got to work on time.  (And thankful that even if I hadn’t, my co-workers would have understood my lateness.) 

Even with all the “madness” going on in the world, there is much to be thankful for.  It’s easy to remember this around Thanksgiving.  Let’s keep it going throughout the year. 

Oh yeah, thank you for reading! 

X, LG

#480.5 Blessing (Follow Up)

I know ya'll are dying to find out what happened with the electric blanket, and I have some news.

Mom called me at work Monday afternoon to gloat about her success at Kohls.  They bought an electric blanket that was originally $140-something.  With all the discounts and coupons and Kohls cash, she paid $40.  Well played, Helen.  Well played.

And I was right - their old electric blanket is close to 50 years old and was a gift from my dad's parents.  How's that for longevity?

Wishing continued blessings to you all,

X,LG

#480 Blessing

My mom and dad are 92 and 86 respectively.  They sometimes call me at work to look something up on the Internet.  Usually they ask me to print an obituary for someone who lived in another state.  Today, I attempted to help them purchase an electric blanket.  Attempted. 

My parent’s electric blanket bit the dust last week.  I estimate that it may have been at least 20 years old.  Maybe older.  Their requirements for a replacement:  queen size and dual control, meaning there are two heating zones so they can each control the temperature on their side of the blanket.  Shouldn’t be too difficult.  That’s what I usually say at the beginning. 

I spent about 20 minutes spanning two phone conversations during my lunch break trying to purchase a blanket.  I did a quick search for some reviews and found a few.  First site- Target.  But when I looked closer, two controls, only one zone.  Second site – Kohls.  They favor Kohls because my mom has a Kohls charge and constantly has coupons.  I found one blanket that had two controls and hoped it had dual zones (their site is not as descriptive as Target).  Ok, let’s do this.  While on the phone with my mom she gave me her Kohls charge number and the coupon code (it was fun trying to find the code number).  I gave her the color options and told her it was made of fleece.  “It’s free?”  she asked.  No, it’s fleece.  F-L-E-E-C-E. 

I need to pause and say that 1) my mom is hard of hearing, and 2) my office has no ceiling and is in an area with a 30-foot, barrel-shaped ceiling which allows sound to bounce around haphazardly, entertaining random people down the hall. 

I’ll also add that the last time my parents bought an electric blanket (if it wasn’t a wedding gift from 57 years ago), they were probably $50.  Now they are upwards of $200.  I told her the price of the one at Kohls and she was shocked.  “That much?!”  We need more coupons. 

Back to the fleece.  After several attempts to clarify, I heard my dad in the background finally say, “It’s FLEECE.”  Which reminds me of a scene in Christmas Vacation. 

With that settled, I started to place the order.  Kohls charge number entered, I finally got the coupon code.  Then she says, “Well, Monday is Veteran’s Day and I can get another $10 off (my dad served in the Army Reserve) so maybe we’ll wait until Monday.”  Although I think they had to use that coupon in the store, to which they finally decided to go to the store Monday and place an order at a kiosk (can you do that?).    

Let me finish by saying I love my parents and am thankful they are still on this earth.  They have been a blessing to me in ways too numerous to count over the years, so I am happy to help them with anything.  I took some deep breaths during the ordering process, but at no time was I upset.  It’s just funny.  Life situations are funny.  Every time I have a conversation with my mom at work I want to hang up and say to anyone within audio-bouncing earshot, “I’m sorry about that.”  (The last, most humorous, conversation with her was when she called asking for the last name of my nephew’s fiancé.  I must have spelled Bontrager five times, stopping, starting, repeating, laughing inside.  Not laughing at her, mind you, just laughing at the absurdity.  (Why couldn’t he have met a girl with the last name of Smith?)

I know I’m not the only one who helps their parents out in this manner.  (My brother Paul helps them out with their electronic issues.)  It’s the circle of life, right?  Just remember they are a blessing, and it's a blessing to be able to help them out.