Giving Thanks

I'm thankful for...

- My wonderful wife
- My two awesome boys
- A very loving and supportive extended family
- Good shipmates and friends and the difficult challenges we've overcome together
- Being an American
- A good church
- A great house
- Food to feed my family and clothes to keep us warm
- A secure job and a good paycheck in this troubled economy
- Good schools for both of my boys

We were blessed today to be invited to Thanksgiving dinner at the house of some friends from church. It was an awesome dinner with all the fixings. My favorite dish was the sweet potato praline casserole.

After dinner, we all went for a walk around the neighborhood to help the food settle and make room for dessert.

Ode to an After Dinner Walk.

Mmmm, full belly - tryptophan flowing in my veins,

Ahh, the crisp fresh air - biting my cheeks, can't feel my nose,

White picket fences and seasonal decorations - orange and yellow gords,

Bare trees - dark silent sentinels silhouetted against the sky,

Brown leaves under our feet - crunch, crunch, crunch,

Geese flying in a vee-formation high overhead - distant honking,

Quiet conversation and laughter amongst friends,

And my seven year old plays Nintendo...

While I wish I could have convinced him to enjoy the walk with us without the distraction of electronic entertainment, I figured I had three choices.

a) Refuse to let him bring the Nintendo, he refuses to go on the walk and stays at the house.

Result:
+ Content son.
- Son doesn't get exercise.
+ I enjoy peaceful walk with friends.
- Son doesn't enjoy or learn to appreciate the beauty of the season.

b) Refuse to let him bring the Nintendo, he refuses to go on the walk, and I drag him kicking and screaming on the walk against his will.

Result:
- Unhappy son.
+ Son gets exercise.
- My ears hurt from listening to his crying and whining.
- Son still doesn't enjoy or learn to appreciate the beauty of the season.

c) Allow him to bring Nintendo, he goes on walk.

Result:
+ Content son.
+ Son gets exercise.
+ I enjoy peaceful walk with friends.
- Son still doesn't enjoy or learn to appreciate the beauty of the season.

I figured 3 out of 4 ain't bad.

Ahhhh, Nintendo by the fire.