Happy Thanksgiving, indeed

The weather folks have been in an uproar lately. Last Saturday, we got socked with an unexpected ice storm that reduced highways and byways to large skating rinks. Took me damn near two hours to negotiate the short distance from the Metrodome in Minneapolis to the Como area estate.

Thanksgiving is on us tomorrow. The Voices of doom and gloom are howling about an expected 1-3 inches of snow around town tonight. 1-3 inches? As a kid growing up in Detroit, we prayed for 1-3 inches of snow on Thanksgiving Day. (Rarely got our wish. It was usually either cold rain or a brisk sunny day.)

So we have a (mini) snowstorm descending upon us. We are approaching our third Thanksgiving without fulltime, gainful employment. My neck is stiff today. The Detroit Lions only have two wins. The Republicans, giddy over winning most fo the election races earlier this month, are promising to roll back everything any Dem ever accomplished because ... they can. Seems like a perfect time to say, "Bah, Humbug" and move into the prenatal position on the couch with remote in hand.

Except that there is a helluva lot to be thankful this year. When people say "Well, you got your health," they ain't kidding. A longtime friend of my wife passed away late last night. He was 59 years old. The cancer was first spotted less than a year ago. A good friend of mine -- a fellow of similar age -- has cancer in his eye. Had a setback recently. Another family friend is spending Thanksgiving Eve at the Mayo Clinic trying to find out just what the hell is wrong anyway.

There are other stories like this, too. And so it goes.

But the fact is there really is a lot to be thankful this year. When one goes through trials and tribulations, one learns that little victories count just as much as big victories. So, when you sell a small, satiric article to MinnPost.com (as I did the other day. it was a casual about the Vikings, who got hammered on Sunday and fired their coach the next day, slipping down to the level of the Lions. Read it. I thought it sang.), you enjoy it. When you get a fair settlement for your car being stolen and you are able to buy a good used car from a person you trust, you smile a bit longer. When you learn a friend was really able to pull a big surprise off and visit her parents in another state, you are happy for them. When the family dog greets you like he really is happy to see you, you can't help but smile and rub his ears. And when you have a kid in a class you are teaching who has been nothing but trouble for you suddenly relax and be civil in a place where you never expected him to, you are filled with goodwill.

It's all in what you make of it. There are plenty of big things in life that need attention. Recovering from heart stents and getting a fulltime job ranks high on that list.

But we tend to focus on the little problems and often make a big deal out of something that is small potatoes. So, when your partner in a football pool changes a pick and that costs you a possible win for the week, you shrug and just be happy that you have such a friend. You have a drink together. You laughingly tell her never to do it again. And then you move on.

You look forward to such events as Thanksgiving dinner at your sister-in-law's place. Not only is she a helluva cook, she is terrific company and a great, giving, caring human being. Yes, it's not the same without her mom being around. But the last thing Colleen would want is for anybody to mope. There's simply too much living and laughing to be done.

I guess what this means is we all can find things to grumble about. Some of them are even legitimate gripes. But tomorrow is the one day of the year where we are supposed to forget about that crap and reflect on the things we are truly grateful for. At least that is my intention.

After all, there are 362 other days (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day get passes, too) to mull over those problems.

Happy Thanksgiving, indeed.