Thursday, November 23, 2006

Happy Turkey Day

Gobble gobble gobble! All those poor turkeys fit to be stuffed. Frozen, bathed, brined, baked or fried. Whatever the fate, they'll all end up ate. But that's ok with me. I'm thankful that a turkey gave it's life so I could partake of it. I'm also thankful for the cranberries, potatoes, pumpkins, peas, onions, bananas, wheat, celery and such that have sacrificed themselves for the occasion. And of course the thousands of people who helped bring it all together: the farmers, the truck drivers, gas station attendants, quality assurance people, people working at the canneries and meat processing plants and so forth. Oh yes and the people who deliver our propane, because without them we'd have to eat everything raw and that's not Good Eats.

With all that there is to be thankful for it seem's somewhat shameful to bring up the next topic, my Christmas Wishlist. Someone very dear to me requested that I update it for this holiday season and so it was my honor to do such. I must say though, it is always surprising how difficult this particular task is. It would seem easy. After all, there are many many things to be desired. I can walk into a store and see dozens of things that I would like. But, I don't necessarily get them. This is because they really aren't all that valueable to me. I desire a lot of things that I don't get. Even though I could get pretty much anything, I only get the things that I really want. So when it comes down to it I have to find things that I would buy for myself, that I haven't yet bought. And as I said before I can pretty much afford everything that I really want. Well everything that I want that is within the budget of anyone I know anyway.

There is more to it than just having trouble finding items that I want that I haven't got. It also seem to fit the spirit of the holiday season. I mean here it is Thanksgiving. I'm supposed to be thinking of all the things I have to be thankful for. And there are many things. But in order to update my wishlist I have to look at all the stuff I haven't got. Try to think of things that I don't have. It just seems greedy. And this is the season of giving. I want to figure out what I can get for other people. The ironic part of this is that it I want to give really good gifts too. So I end up inflicting this task on everyone I care about. This is also why it makes it bearable. I can take heart in the fact that I am providing a service that I would appreciate myself. So I make my list knowing that by doing so I'll make life for my family and friends easier and happier.