Rant 9 December 23, 2008

Merry Christmas HO HO HO

It has been some time since you have had a rant from me and for the last few days I have been thinking of what kind of holiday message I should send out.  So far no great inspiration has visited me.  So as with most work assignments in my life I have now waited until there is just no more time and will have to deal with whatever comes naturally.  This approach has the advantage that it generally comes from the heart.

2008 has been a mixed year for me.  As you know, I lost my Mother recently and that has hit me fairly hard and my health issues are becoming rather limiting.  On the other hand, 2008 gave us a chance to finally get rid of that putz Bush and his cronies; so I am feeling much better for the country and the world generally. 

As tough as the country’s problems are turning out to be, Obama has got to be asking himself why the hell he wanted the job in the first place.  Beginnings do not count nearly as much as endings, so we will have to wait for a while before we can judge him, but so far I like how he has been handling things.  I could not be happier that we finally seem to have a chance to establish a new direction for ourselves and for the generations to come.  We really should try to leave them a planet that is habitable.

So I have been thinking about gratitude. 

Sometimes when I can’t breathe I get to feeling pretty sorry for myself.  (This is just after the panic attack subsides.)  The truth of the matter however is that I should have died of alcoholism over 20 years ago.  With the help of good friends, a higher power and the AA program I was able to cheat a degrading death that I know was only months, if not weeks, away when I finally got sober.

So gratitude.  Mostly I am grateful that I have been blessed in friends and family and that I have lived long enough to enjoy them both.

I have a wonderful son, a beautiful daughter-in-law and three great grandchildren.  I do sometimes wish that I was closer to Jason but I am so lucky that circumstances permit me to spend time with him and his family.  All of them could not be better in any aspect.  And Mrs. Hansford tolerates me most of the time as long as I do exactly as she instructs.

I certainly have been blessed with friends whose quality of character is simply astounding.  At one time or another I have been the recipient of your humor, your support and understanding and in most cases your tolerance.  I often reflect on how fortunate I have been to meet so many truly exceptional individuals from all over the globe.  You have all improved my life and made it richer.  Thank you.

I thought about listing the many, many kindnesses that have been shown me over the years but the list is just too long.  The more I think about them the more they seem to increase.

I want you to know how much I appreciate you all.  At this time of year I am particularly wishing for the very best to come to you and those who are close to you.  If there is any aid or service I can perform that would be useful to you I urge you to let me know.  It is little enough for me to do to repay the many gifts of caring that have been so freely given to me.

I wish you all the very best of holidays.  Thank you all.