It’s time to bow our heads and give thanks for the good things we’ve received in 2006 and in anticipation of good things to come in 2007. Gratitude is an underused muscle in my psychological anatomy, but I’ve come to understand there is no blessing without burden and (gratefully) the same holds true in reverse.
It reminds me of the recurring George Lindsey sketch on Hee Haw, where he sits in the barber’s chair and begins spinning a yarn. When the barber would respond to a piece of news by saying, “That’s good,” Mr. Lindsey would point out, no the seeming good development was actually bad. The barber would say, “That’s bad” and Mr. Lindsey would then point out why the bad was actually good. It was 1970s hillbilly comedy, but there was some truth in it.
Thanks. I live in one of the most beautiful corners of America. When I’m out with Adrienne and we turn a corner at the top of the hill and look out across Lake Champlain to the Adirondack Mountains beyond, she invariably says, “Look where we live!”
No, thanks. Living in such a beautiful place comes with hazards, as our friend Peggy learned last week when she struck a deer with her car.
Thanks. Peggy and her four-year-old daughter, securely strapped in, were not injured.
No, thanks. The deer was killed. The four-year-old exclaimed, “Mommy, you killed Bambi!” (Parents, you might want to consider local geography before showing “Bambi” to your kids. “Hey kids, who wants to watch ‘The Little Mermaid’?” Not much chance of running one of them down.)
Thanks. The International Paper pulp mill across the lake abandoned plans last week to burn tires for fuel in its boiler. After years of wrangling, New York State and federal environmental authorities gave IP permission to conduct a test burn and, as environmentalists predicted, the emissions were uncontrollably noxious.
No, thanks. The mill still uses the lake as a sewer and burns number six fuel oil in its boiler.
Thanks. The Democrats took control of both houses of Congress. After a half-decade of one-party rule, citizens may begin to get some accountability from our government starting in 2007.
No, thanks. The Democrats took control of both houses of Congress. In just two weeks since the election, the Dem leaders have been busy shooting themselves and each other in the foot.
Thanks. Who doesn’t love a sunny day? The weather’s been beautiful recently. The rain finally let up and Vermont set records last week with temperatures in the mid- to upper 60s.
No, thanks. I woke this morning to our first killing frost in the Champlain Valley. The fourth Thursday in November is about a month late for that sort of thing in northern New England. A story in last week’s local paper noted that a long-foundering ski area had found yet another infusion of cash to keep stumbling along. The abutting story noted that we might have a second winter in a row without snow.
Thanks. If the history of the 20th century has anything to teach, it’s that adversity builds character and community. Let us be thankful for both the blessings and the disguised blessings the coming year will bring.
Thanks/No, Thanks
It’s time to bow our heads and give thanks for the good things we’ve received in 2006 and in anticipation of good things to come in 2007. Gratitude is an underused muscle in my psychological anatomy, but I’ve come to understand there is no blessing without burden and (gratefully) the same holds true in reverse.
It reminds me of the recurring George Lindsey sketch on Hee Haw, where he sits in the barber’s chair and begins spinning a yarn. When the barber would respond to a piece of news by saying, “That’s good,” Mr. Lindsey would point out, no the seeming good development was actually bad. The barber would say, “That’s bad” and Mr. Lindsey would then point out why the bad was actually good. It was 1970s hillbilly comedy, but there was some truth in it.
Thanks. I live in one of the most beautiful corners of America. When I’m out with Adrienne and we turn a corner at the top of the hill and look out across Lake Champlain to the Adirondack Mountains beyond, she invariably says, “Look where we live!”
No, thanks. Living in such a beautiful place comes with hazards, as our friend Peggy learned last week when she struck a deer with her car.
Thanks. Peggy and her four-year-old daughter, securely strapped in, were not injured.
No, thanks. The deer was killed. The four-year-old exclaimed, “Mommy, you killed Bambi!” (Parents, you might want to consider local geography before showing “Bambi” to your kids. “Hey kids, who wants to watch ‘The Little Mermaid’?” Not much chance of running one of them down.)
Thanks. The International Paper pulp mill across the lake abandoned plans last week to burn tires for fuel in its boiler. After years of wrangling, New York State and federal environmental authorities gave IP permission to conduct a test burn and, as environmentalists predicted, the emissions were uncontrollably noxious.
No, thanks. The mill still uses the lake as a sewer and burns number six fuel oil in its boiler.
Thanks. The Democrats took control of both houses of Congress. After a half-decade of one-party rule, citizens may begin to get some accountability from our government starting in 2007.
No, thanks. The Democrats took control of both houses of Congress. In just two weeks since the election, the Dem leaders have been busy shooting themselves and each other in the foot.
Thanks. Who doesn’t love a sunny day? The weather’s been beautiful recently. The rain finally let up and Vermont set records last week with temperatures in the mid- to upper 60s.
No, thanks. I woke this morning to our first killing frost in the Champlain Valley. The fourth Thursday in November is about a month late for that sort of thing in northern New England. A story in last week’s local paper noted that a long-foundering ski area had found yet another infusion of cash to keep stumbling along. The abutting story noted that we might have a second winter in a row without snow.
Thanks. If the history of the 20th century has anything to teach, it’s that adversity builds character and community. Let us be thankful for both the blessings and the disguised blessings the coming year will bring.
Happy Thanksgiving.
© Mark Floegel, 2006