There’s a lot of talk about “thanks” and “gratitude” this time of year. Indeed, there is much to be thankful for. The struggle, for me, is mustering this “thanksgiving” in the midst of challenge, struggle and frustration. And, I find, I need not look far to find opportunities to practice the cultivation of gratitude in the midst of less than perfect circumstances. Like this morning, while dropping my daughter off at school… gratitude cultivation opportunities abound! I thought it fitting to compile a list of tangibles for which I found myself thankful in spite of the mounting chaos around me.

1. I’m thankful it does not require a degree in Nuclear Fusion to navigate the Kiss-N-Go lane at my daughter’s school, because college is expensive.
2. I’m thankful for miracles, because I believe in them, and if I hold on to hope tightly enough, I just know that one day, all persons 16+ will rise to the challenge of operating their vehicle correctly… and the world will know peace.
3. I’m thankful for the mighty hands of the Lord, wrapped preventively around my mouth, locking my thoughts inside, as the overly hairy father in front of me got out of his car in his shorts and flip flops, sharing more skin than anyone cares to see at 9 a.m., leaving his car door agape, blocking 8 cars behind him and proceeded to look for his child who exited said car 3 minutes prior. I sat mute. That’s the Lord’s provision my friends!
4. I’m thankful for my prosperous butt, as it afforded sufficient restraint atop my right hand, harnessing the inertia of my strategic digit while the parent in front of me halted all traffic as she stopped 6 car lengths shy of the end of the Kiss-N-Go lane… in the middle of the road… and allowed her child 35 minutes to exit the vehicle.
5. I’m thankful for Sir Mix A Lot, as he sang the song of my people, providing adequate entertainment for me as I watched the mother in front of me not kiss, and not go, and not stop every door of her vehicle from opening to release four children, one recorder, one trumpet, a cello out the back and one service iguana. I cannot lie, the chorus carried me through as this mother then exited her car to close every. single. door. her brood left open.
6. I’m thankful for my Winter boots and the traction adorned soles that were planted securely on my brake pad preventing me from taking chase after the parent who coasted through the occupied crosswalk narrowly missing three students, two of whom were wearing Safety Orange and holding STOP flags extended.
7. I’m thankful for the abundance of Optometrists in the greater Seattle area that would be happy to assist parent referenced in #6 with his/her optical deficiencies.
8. I’m thankful for the new auto parts store that is within a reasonable drive of the school. They sell blinker bulbs, and based on my calculations of qualifying vehicles, they could stand to make a killing. Let’s support local businesses this holiday season.
9. I’m thankful for Mrs. G and her composure and patience, rivaling that of Job, while managing the frighteningly comatose masses who mindlessly traverse the parking lot each day. I’ve not once seen her homicidal!
10. I’m thankful for my gift of creativity as I see a cross stitch in the making that might lovingly adorn the parking lot. Some day.
11. I’m thankful for you, for reading my nonsense without making a single comment about my proclivity for run-on sentences.
12. I’m thankful for the humor that we are all going to keep in mind as we work together to use our beautiful heads and not maim our children in the parking lot.