Gratitude, by Martha Thomases – Brilliant Disguise | @MDWorld

November 23, 2013 Martha Thomases 5 Comments

Well, folks, it’s that time again.  Sweeps month is over, and we’re staring down the holidays.  The week ahead affords us Thanksgiving, and, if you’re lucky enough to be Chosen, Hanukkah as well.

It’s a lot of pressure.  One is supposed to spend time with one’s family and to be happy about it.  One is supposed to wear matching sweaters and sing together, or watch football on television, or bask in the glow of unconditional love.

This is a lot of pressure for those of us who don’t fit that rosy narrative, or who live in the real world.  However, it is my own personal philosophy that one can do worse than give thanks.  Late at night, when I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, and I fall asleep counting my blessings.

(Which, in this case, include a guarded appreciation for Bing Crosby.)

Here are a few of the things I count.

•  I don’t have to work for Walmart.  It’s bad enough that they teach their employees how to apply for Medicaid and food stamps.  Now they expect their customers to not only pick up the slack for their corporate greed with taxes, but with direct charity as well.  Not having to work there or shop there is a bullet dodged.

• Similarly, I don’t have to work on Thanksgiving.  I mean, as a writer, I don’t have to work at any specific time, and can work at every specific time, but it’s my choice.  Many people, especially those who work in poorly-paid service industry jobs, like retail, have to give up holiday time with their families to work minimum-wage jobs, just so the Walmarts and Macy’s of the world can garner a few extra bucks for their shareholders and executives.  I’m thankful that some stores realize that goodwill matters, and that they treat their employees a little bit more like humans, at least for one day.

•  You wouldn’t know it from the news media, but Obamacare is starting to work.  Not enough, and I continue to be mortified by the ineptitude of the roll-out, but it’s getting fixed.  I should add, however, for those who continue to believe there is some kind of “liberal media” conspiracy, that I’ve seen more unfavorable coverage about the Affordable Care Act roll-out than I did about the lack of “weapons of mass destruction” or “yellow cake” during the Iraq war.  I guess being inconvenienced by a crummy website is worse than somebody else’s kids dying, at least to our “liberal” media.

•  The movement to eat locally grown food has expanded to other areas, including a movement to knit (or crochet or weave) with locally grown yarn.  I happen to enjoy all sorts of fibers, including Mongolian cashmere, Italian merinos and Peruvian alpaca.  Still, I am delighted that I will have more to choose, and that American farmers will have another source of income.

•  Two weeks ago, when I was wandering the halls of the pediatric ward at the cancer hospital, I knocked on a door to see if the young girl inside wanted to learn how to knit.  She had no thumbs.  Her mom wanted to learn, though, so we had a nice visit.  The next week, her mom said that when they got home, she would find a way to teach her daughter.  That’s a great mom, and I’m lucky to have met her.  Also, I have my thumbs, for which I say, “Thanks.”

•  I have the world’s most affectionate cat.  If I’m going to be a crazy cat lady, this is the way to go.

Martha Thomases, Media Goddess, wishes you all a warm and cuddly holiday.