Thanksgiving: Count our blessings

Don't we all complain too much? Well, maybe not you as much as me, but I'd be willing to bet my vast wealth of $600 that you're not always happy with the things that effect you either on a daily, monthly or yearly basis or for the rest of your life.

See if you can identify with the following.

Sometimes I get very angry with my husband because he refuses to go to different musical events, such as the opera, ballet, plays and musicals. If I read of an event I really want to see, I usually have to call one of my friends. OK, that's the complaint.

The thanks is he doesn't go, which would make for a miserable evening all around. He also would probably snore through the performance. I am grateful for Jay. After all, we will be married for 40 years in January.

It perturbs me when the radio stations in my SUV are always changed during the grandchildren's visits. If I can't understand the words of a song, I have no interest in listening to it.

On the other hand, they both give me great joy. Jay and Sarah are great kids. Jay is very much into movies, as I am.

Of course, his favorite this year was "War of the Worlds." We even discussed the picture at length, and he couldn't convince me how good it was. Sarah just enjoys spending time with me. Because of arthritis in my back, I often go to bed early to watch TV so I can lie down. Inevitably, she will come with me and I just love it.

As mentioned above, I do have arthritis in my back, neck and hands. Up until a year ago, there was not much that could be done other than mega doses of medication. That's the complaint.

The thanks part comes in the form of Dr. Richard Epter at the Augusta Pain Center. My family doctor sent me to him about a year ago. Now I go once a month to receive shots that greatly reduce the pain. Thanks, Doc!

My dog, Sandy, is a trip. She annoys us constantly by wanting out the back door and scratches at the door five minutes later to come in. This goes on all day. Come on! I don't want to hear any lectures of how spoiled she is. She's a Fickle dog!

She failed obedience classes, but we've never had a dog that makes us laugh as much as she does. When she does go outside, she's the best squirrel chaser ever. She hops around like a kangaroo, but still hasn't caught one. We did get a present of a baby possum once. What a treat!

Aging is starting to get to me. I used to be a very good cook. Now I ask Jay to do a lot in the kitchen because I get burned or wind up burning whatever's in the pan. My thanks do go out to the people who make Hamburger Helper and other similar "quick" meals. They're kind of hard to screw up. Of course, they're kind of hard to eat sometimes, too. Whatever!

I don't agree with my government on many levels. But then, I never have. The great thing about that is we have control over it. We live in a democratic and free country. We vote politicians in and vote them out. How great is that?

Guess that's my list of biggest complaints. After looking over it, I really don't have a bad life. How about you? It's Thanksgiving. Give thanks! Hug your family and friends. Don't worry about burning the turkey. There's always Kroger or Publix.

(Pat Fickle is a Martinez resident.)