It's a Wonderful Life

Cliff and I were in the middle of our almost-daily walk in the pasture the other day and, as people tend to do this time of year, we began to reminisce.  Cliff brought up the fact that we've lived paycheck to paycheck all our lives and how, when we were younger, any purchase we made was a big deal.  
At least half the time while we were raising our two kids, we had no health insurance; our good health through those times was nothing short of miraculous.  The only major hospitalization episode I recall from back then was our son's broken leg, which kept him in the hospital, in traction, for a month.  Cliff's boss at the butcher shop paid the hospital bill out of his own pocket.
   
Please notice that I don't use the word "poor" when I talk about the old days.  Much poverty is brought about by people labeling themselves "poor".  If you say something often enough, you'll start to believe it.  I also try to avoid the words "can't afford".  There are more positive ways to say things, and I try to use words that don't beat me down.  
But I digress.   


Cliff was talking about our lack of funds through the years, and I said, "Yeah, but we were having fun, weren't we?"  
He agreed.  He mentioned buying the first brand new vehicle of his life, and the thrill of moving to our own little farm.  We had twenty acres and a couple of cows.  Every day was an adventure.  Cliff learned how to build a pole barn; I learned how to raise baby calves and lambs.  I gardened and canned the produce, and felt so self-sufficient.  Our kids were funny and cute.  Life was exciting.  
Cliff, smiling, said something about how proud he was to buy his first tractor, a little Ford 8N, and I quoted a line from my favorite movie:  "You see, George, you've really had a wonderful life."  
We laughed together, remembering all the good times.  I often tell Cliff that we've had more of the things we wanted out of life than most millionaires.  As I sit here, I can't think of a single thing I want that I don't have.      
And here's the great thing:  Life is still good.  Sure, we have some aches and pains.  We have our physical limitations.  We tire easily.  But we still have fun.  There are things to laugh about every day, and so much to be thankful for.  We have plenty to eat and a roof over our heads.  
Now, I could ruin this moment by thinking about all the trials of old age that might be waiting around the corner, but what good would it do?  Why worry about things we can't change?  
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today's trouble is enough for today."  Matthew 6:34
Thankfully, for today, my troubles are few and my blessings are many.

Thankful

I tend to take my health for granted.  You'll sometimes catch me complaining about my knees and feet, but that's really the only part of my body that gives me problems, and all I have to do is sit down and the pain is gone; I don't have to take any pain-killers.  
Sunday morning when I was so rudely awakened by a power outage, I ended up with a headache; that's such a rare thing that I couldn't believe it was happening.  The only time I have headaches is when I'm feverish, and I don't know when the last time was that I had a fever.  I took a Tylenol Sunday, and eventually the headache faded away.  
I've heard lots of people with bad knees say their knees hurt when they were in bed, to the point of causing loss of sleep.  This is not a problem I have.  Once I'm in bed, I feel no pain, anywhere.  I'm thankful for that.  
I'm a sight to behold when I first get up, though.  It seems that after a rest, my knees think they've retired, and don't want to work.  So my first steps in the morning, toward the coffee pot, I walk like a really old lady.  It's the same when I've been riding in the car awhile.  Watching older people get out of their cars at Walmart, or at gas stations along the freeway, I realize this is a very common problem.  Lots of senior citizens walk funny after they've been sitting awhile.    
I don't have a lot of colds, and the ones I have aren't severe.  Migraines?  Never had one in my life, thank goodness.  Allergies?  Don't have them.  Sinus problems are rare.  Once in a blue moon (every five years or so) sinusitis happens, but a trip to the Minute Clinic for some antibiotics fixes me right up.  I get my flu shot every year, and it must do some good.  I haven't had a case of the flu for many years.  (This is where I knock wood.)  
I see my husband plagued by arthritis caused by his years of butchering and realize how blessed I am to only have "old Arthur" in my knees and feet.  Cliff has a really bad shoulder, his fingers and hands don't grip very well, and his back might as well be made of glass, it's that tricky.  He knows not to tackle anything too physical until he's been up and moving for a couple of hours.  
He and I are very thankful, though, for the clean bill of health given him by the cardiologist recently.  The words "in normal range" looked really good to us.  
When I see people with so many physical ailments popping pills like candy, I realize how blessed I am.  That Tylenol I took for the headache the other day was the first pain-killer of any kind that I've taken for months.  
I watched Michael J. Fox on David Letterman the other night (thanks to the DVR), and thought to myself how well he handles that awful condition called Parkinson's.  I so admire him for his wonderful attitude, his outlook on life.  
What on earth do I have to complain about?  
I said to Cliff, "I'll bet Michael would gladly trade homes with us if it meant he could get rid of the Parkinson's.  He'd probably be tickled to death to trade his Parkinsons for my achy knees."  
So yes, I'm thankful that we're doing as well as we are.  Here's hoping Cliff and I get to enjoy years of retirement together; but if something should happen to prevent that, as Cliff always says, "We've had a good run of it."

Patrick's Sunday Seven

Here is this week’s “Sunday Seven” question. Either answer in a comment at Patrick's Place, or put the answers in an entry on your blog…but either way, leave a link to your journal at Patrick's Place so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as “first to play,” you must be the first player to either answer the questions in a comment or to provide a complete link to the specific entry in your blog in which you answer the questions. A general link to your blog cannot count. Enjoy!

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
Name seven things for which you are thankful.

Either answer the question in a comment at Patrick's Place or answer it in your journal and include the link in a comment. (To be considered “first to play,” a link must be to the specific entry in which you answered the question.) You may include this link in the URL space when leaving your comment, or in the comment itself. As long as it’s there in one spot or the other.

Wow, this is easy:

1. The grace of God

2. My husband, his health, and his job

3. my home, with all the new-to-me perks that go with it (a/c, dishwasher, garbage disposal, hot tub)

4. my children and grandchildren, and family in general

5. Our 42 acres

6. the Internet and all my Internet friends

7. Our motorcycle, and all the fun trips we have on it.

Thankful

This morning during my quiet time, I was thinking of all the things for which I am thankful. I thought of the horseback ride yesterday which, although it was cut short by a north wind numbing my toes, was still a pleasure. But then, spending time with my Blue is always a pleasure.

I'm glad God is patient with me and my mental meanderings when I give thanks. I told Him I don't know what I ever did to deserve a horse like Blue, the crown jewel of all the pets I've ever owned (although he's more "friend" than pet).

I considered Cliff's oldest sister, who called yesterday and told us her husband is in love with another woman and wants a divorce. Then my thoughts went to Cliff's cousin, who became a widow less than a week ago, her husband taken by a sudden and massive stroke. I prayed for both the sister and the cousin to have peace and wisdom; and somewhere in there I realized how near I was to being in their positions, almost two years ago: alone. And I thought how my life would have been changed, had the worst happened.

I wouldn't have my beloved horse any more, because there's no way I could remain here in the country by myself. I don't drive. And even if I did, I couldn't keep up with this place; Cliff barely can, it's that much work.

Cliff was experiencing angina every day when we went for our walk, calling it heartburn. Any one of our daily walks could have done him in. Then an angel named Joanna came visiting and told me to get him to a doctor, because it might not be indigestion after all.

He was in such bad shape, the doctor wouldn't even let him come home once he was diagnosed, or even drive to the next hospital a few blocks away.

So this morning, I took some time being thankful for my husband, who never takes a breath without me on his mind. Perhaps that's hard to believe, but it's true. The man worries about me as though I were a toddler who needed constant watching to keep her from burning herself on the stove. I'll be flying down to visit my winter-Texan sister before long, and Cliff stews and frets, wondering if I'll lose my purse changing planes, or get kidnapped, or possibly killed in a plane crash.

He jumps through hoops trying to make me happy, never realizing I'm already happier than anybody has a right to be.

I understand how unique it is, in this day and age, to have someone care that much. Usually, once our mommies are gone, nobody is too concerned with the minor details of our lives.

And again, I am thankful.