Thankful

The other day, my irate girlfriend read to me a post by this guy she knew in college. He was kind enough to give us his perspective on this holiday season and he had nothing good to say. He said there was nothing to be thankful for this year. And then 10 people liked his status. How horrifyingly fucked up. Nothing?! I’m sorry but if you are healthy enough to type a Facebook post, have enough money to afford a device to post things with and a warm place to post them from, you are blessed. There have been times in my life I had to decide if I was paying my phone bill or eating or just not turning the heat over 50 in the winter, times when I could not do either. I know of many people who would have seen me then and been jealous that I had a freezing cold apartment, a carton of eggs, a medical issue and a horrible job. Even then I had it good.
Thinking about that careless post and remembering those rough years in my 20s I realized I have a lot to be thankful for… A big lot. I have a warm home, healthy, intelligent step kids, 3 jobs (school, military, home improvement store) that make the bills tough but doable, a good family, made up of both blood and adopted family and a goofy new kitten.
And if that wasn’t enough, I have my girlfriend. I don’t know anyone else in the world who could put up with my moods, smelly shoes, tv and Minecraft addiction, inexperience with kids (did you know you can’t just call them ass-holes, who knew) and overall insanity, all the while balancing the kids, remembering my favorite foods (and hiding them from the kids so I can actually get some) and telling me every day that she believes in me to do well in school and to do something with my writing, even if it involves using some of the hard earned money to make happen.
I am lucky. Life is so far from perfect I got my honorary Grizwald card in the mail last week (and that is a typical day for us) but at the end of the day, I and everyone else can find something to be thankful for. What are you thankful for?
Jill
P.s. “I don’t can’t stand you” still