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."

questions and feedback from my readers

Someone asked if I got the color version of Nook; I did not.  The color Nook is backlit (so is the Ipad) , and I get enough eye strain from hours spent at this computer.  I didn't need any more.  The basic Nook is just like reading a real book; you have to have some kind of lighting to read it.  
Lindie, I would have to pay to get a library card at Mid-Continent Public Library.  I don't live in the right county.  Actually, I could get a free card right now based on where Cliff works, but he isn't going to be working much longer.  
It isn't that hard to figure out all the little twists and turns of using the Nook.  I happen to have a longtime Internet bloggie and Facebook friend who answered all my questions, but there's a phone number you can call for support.  That's what I would have done if Jeanie hadn't been avalible to help me.  
There is very little difference between the Nook and Kindle, so don't think I'm putting down the Kindle.  From what I've seen, both readers work exactly the same; the only advantage I found (thanks again to Jeanie) is that library e-books can be read on the Nook.  Not so with the Kindle.  
I was going to wait until closer to Christmas to buy the Nook, but the longer I shopped, the more I found myself lusting after something costlier and fancier than the basic Wi-fi Nook.  We aren't rich, and all I really wanted was something on which to read books.  And I didn't need a backlit screen, as I stated before.  My eyes, my eyes!
I've had a lot of people saying they like the feel of a real book in their hands.  Well folks, I think if you try an ereader, you'll be surprised at how much easier it is to hold than a real book.  It's lighter; you don't have to mark your place, it's marked for you automatically.  
Try it.  You'll like it.  
This is probably the last entry I'll do about my Nook.  I know it's not all that interesting to most folks.  Trouble is, there's just not much going on around here to blog about.  Perhaps I can find a pleasant memory to blog about tomorrow.  That is, if I can get my nose out of the Nook.