At some point during my drive to Chicago yesterday, I realized that my Thursday post was not a thanksgiving post. I thought that I might get another post in last night, but that didn't happen.
So today's Friday post will be a Thursdays are for Thanksgiving post, albeit a day late.
As I ponder about what I might share this morning, I can clearly see that I live a first world kind of life. I am truly thankful that so many of life's simple pleasures are mine for the taking. It is nothing for me to be able to drive all day to make the trip to Chicago to spend some time with my son, and yet there are many in the world that live out their lives within a relatively small area--maybe never travelling more than a few miles from where they were born.
Even in the USA there are people that -- whether due to means or circumstance (or choice)-- never experience life or cultures outside of their immediate area. My family has a bit of both. My dad (with the exception of that Navy gig that sent him halfway around the globe to meet my mom) has pretty much lived life in Central Illinois. He is not much of an adventurer and prefers to stay pretty close to home. My mom (and her sisters) all married men from different countries and moved away from their home in the Philippines. Her brothers remained in the Philippines.
My siblings and I (there are 6 of us) live in six different states. Our kids that are grown are also adventurous. Although Hannah is still in the immediate area, I sense that she longs for a more active city kind of life and a more diverse culture than the nearly pure whitebread culture of Southwest Missouri. However, I do think that Daniel (her fiance) is a less adventurous type and may be more content to stay close to home.
In any case, my thanksgiving today is for the ability and the desire to travel and to experience a bit of the life that other people live; to experience the tastes, the smells and the activities of life in their cities, towns and countries.
Yes, it is a first world kind of thing.
But the reality is I have a pretty good first world life!
John <><
There's a post for you. A run down of all the states and countries where your relatives a located.
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