Today was a good day

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 07:45 AM

Well, I had a row with the wife first thing. Then the car broke down on the way to work. Guess it serves me right, gotta be nice to her (the wife that is).
Since then the day got better, but then they usually do.

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: GUEST,Blodwyn
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 07:42 AM

Schantieman:

"I have recently started a close relationship with a fine man who makes me smile."

#;-D

Blodwyn

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: Schantieman
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 07:23 AM

I have never been very good at counting my blessings - I've always taken stuff like that for granted. But your post made me smile, Jerry, and brought tears to my eyes.   If someone else can do that to me, I wonder what would happen to me if I did it....and maybe someone else would like it too.   So here goes:

I am alive, healthy, reasonably fit and not too fat
I have a beautiful intelligent & lively 6 (almost 7) year old daughter
My soon-to-be-ex-wife doesn't hate me (much)!
I have recently started a close relationship with a fine woman who makes me smile.
My job is secure, safe, clean and reasonably well-paid - and when I try I can do it well.
I have a good, strong voice and enjoy singing.   Other people enjoy it too!
A friend whom we though was dying seems to be recovering from cancer.
In middle age I seem to have found out how to make friends - and the Mudcat has helped this enormously!
All the stuff in my house works and I only have a small damp patch on the wall.
My car just keeps going (179 000 miles now)
I have enough to eat and drink and money to afford it.
The sun rises every day.
.......

Steve

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 06:55 AM

Yesterday was my 58th birthday, and I was around for it.

We had a great dinner of tapas, my wife and I, at a place we hadn't been to before.

The morning's snow was light and fluffy; it stopped by noon, leaving three inches cover. I didn't fall on the ice and had a warm place to live.

I made arrangements for another job interview. Employmentwise, things are doing okay.

We still have some money in the bank.

All in all, a pretty damned good day.

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: Allan C.
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 06:33 AM

It is almost automatic for many folks to end an encounter with "Have a good day!" My response always is, "I promise!" I always try to keep that promise. There is good in almost ever day. Attitude rules one's ability to find it.

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: Pied Piper
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 06:09 AM

Hi jimmyt.
Life is good and to be grateful that the universe made you is healthy, but please don't think that you don't deserve it. Your here at the end of a long line of things that swam, crawled and climbed your right to be here was won by them, back through all the generations. You are heir to all the struggle that placed you here and you have as much right to exist as a fly or a Whale.
All the best PP

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 05:58 AM

Yes, Jerry, thank you.
I try to remind my kids to have an "attitude of gratitude"-
Yesterday I was overcome with the realization that we're so lucky (privileged, really) to have warm cars that speed us to our destination at this time of year- our predecessors in NH looked at winter as 6 months of just plain being cold.
Every day I am astounded at the quantity and variety of the food we have available to eat. And I'm a single mom, with two teenagers, and I am able to keep them fed! Wow!
I haven't had a drink in one year and 6 weeks.
I'm sitting here at this magic box, talking to dozens of folks all over the world! Amazing!!
My mom's knee surgery was yesterday (and was successful!)- I have a boss who is giving me the day off to be with her. And half of Friday to be with my SO for his surgery.
I have two good legs, a healthy body, a voice that somehow manages to inspire others to sing with me, lots of opportunities to do that, and music in my life.
And on and on and on...

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: alanww
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 05:14 AM

Yes life is wonderful:
I have my health ...
I have some great friends, many of them mudcatters ...
I have enough resources to live on ...
I can walk in the countryside and see the magic of nature ...
I can sing, sometimes well ...
I can play my concertina and am learning to play it better ...
I can dance ...
I am even developing a friendship with my soon-to-be ex-wife ...(!)
" ... and ne'er a diamond shone so bright as sunlight through the trees ...!" #
Alan
# From The Blackbird by Dave Webber

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: mg
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 01:11 AM

I saw the moon rise over a totally blue sky at 2 in the afternoon. I have a job that is just fine for me. I went to the ocean after work and it was the most beautiful sunset..all golden in the sand dunes and bright blue ocean and bright pink sun. I have a heater that works and I had sausages and green peppers and onions for dinner..doesn't get much better..mg

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: Sorcha
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 12:34 AM

My car didn't "start right up" but it did start.
My dogs and kids were wonderful. I spent a lot of time with them.
Watched the last night of Westminister Dog Show with good friends.
I am not drunk.
There is still money in the checking account. No overdraught charges.
Lots of food in pantry/freezer.
I am alive, and so are my husband/children. Someones 15 yr old girl child 30 miles from here is still missing after her morning paper route............
My house is warm, the hot/cold/flush facilities work.
I have firewood to burn and am allowed to burn it.
Mudcat is still here.
I don't have to go the river to do the laundry.
I don't have to build a fire in the back yard (with cow chips) to cook meals.
My fiddle is all in one piece, as are all my other instruments.
Many others.......

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: Amos
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 12:18 AM

Jerry:

Thanks!!

I had a great day, too. The car started right up, and it was raining lightly, but still in the light-jacket temperatures, and I was glad of it! I worked all day on an interesting project and came home. BBW and I worked on paperwork and I madeher some dinner, and we heard from our livewire super-daughter, Barky, who is doing mighty well. All things considered, a real jewel of a day, full of the best of friends, and the finest of people. Including you, man!!

A

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: leprechaun
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 12:18 AM

Jerry, you're right. It was a good day for me too. Fun things happened at work, they usually do for me. Then I got home and my wife and kids were glad to see me. I had stew and habanero jerky and grapefruit soda and spearmint skittles. Then I got to get on the computer for a friendly sparring session with all you old hippies.

It made me realize how much I like you folks, even though I'm a jack-booted thug.

All I can say is Right On, Far Out and Groovy.

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: KT
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 12:05 AM

Yes, Jerry. Gratitude is so, so important. Among the things on my list of things to be grateful for today are.....Blue sky and sunshine! And cold, clean air..... fish in the freezer (caught by a wonderful son) and food in the pantry, a washing machine that works, and fresh clean sheets, four senior citizens friends who will love the Valentines I will make for them, a job to go to everyday, the chance to play with children and hear their outrageous, contagious giggles, a note in a four year old's handwriting that says "I love you," great co-workers, and wonderful friends to make music with. And the fact that tomorrow I will be able to start a whole new list in my gratitude journal!!! In these times of uncertainty, when there is so much tension in the air, it's good to reflect on the good. Thanks for the thoughts, Jerry.   KT

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 11:33 PM

Thank you Jerry. I needed that. I see too much the other side; I need to be reminded about the simple stuff.

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: Rustic Rebel
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 11:32 PM

Yes Jerry it was a beautiful day today! And your post just made it a whole lot prettier here at Mudcat.
You make me want to share a poem-so I will!



                         Looking Out
I sit holed up in this little cabin in the woods.
I watch the snow come down, and the sun reflect it's shine
       Looks so divine.         Fairies glitter spread atop of the world.
I watch through the window at the little chick-a-dees
       Scampering off erratically
The blue-jays squawk and do their dancing in the trees
       Holding their heads high and gracefully
The wolves cry is the lonely cry of winter
The wind seems to sigh at the wolves capture
         For the deer fall silently as the snow.
I don't know if it's the wind that tells the owl    Or the owl to the wind
          Of all the wise and wonders of the land
Occasionally a pair of leaves, captured by a breeze,
          Dance along spirited and playfull - Yet restless for their journeys end
      Back to where they came.
A fox chase rabbit game is also played out-
          To the foxes delight he wins the game
A high squeal emits from the rabbit   Could it be a squeal of delight also?
            For it no longer has to play the game.
And with the long winter will come an occasional thaw
             The icicles repeat themselves, throughout this time
The sun will do a dance through them
             With reflections of spring to come.
I watch intently the life of winter And wait patiently for the sun to dance
               Through the final icicle


Peace. Rustic

Subject: RE: Today was a good day
From: jimmyt
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 11:10 PM

Jerry I can tell you that when I read the title of the thread , I said, this must be Jerry. I wish we were all able to approach life like you do. I try, but frequently fail. I am also thankful for everything that the world has offered me most of which I don't deserve. I taught my kids when they were little, "Life ain't always fair, sometimes to the good sometimes to the bad." If we all approached life with the attitude you have, it would sure be a wonderful place!
\

Subject: Today was a good day
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 10:56 PM

Today was a good day. When I woke up this morning and looked out the window, we had another four inches of snow on the ground. I was glad that I had my sight to see it. When I went out to shovel the sidewalk, I was glad I had a good snow shovel, and not that old coal shovel I used when I was a kid. As I stepped out the door, the wind hit me, and I could feel the blast against my face. It was only 14 degrees above zero. I was thankful that I had a warm coat and gloves to keep my hands warm. When I was shoveling the snow, every shovel full was heavier. I was thankful that I have the strength to do it.
When I went to start the car, I was thankful that it kicked in right away, and I was glad that the heater warmed the car quickly and melted the ice on the windshield. When I went back in the house I was thankful that I have such a beautiful, loving wife, and a warm home to come in to.

We went out to one of our favorite restaurants for lunch. We had fish and chips. The fish, the chips and the cole slaw were all delicious, and we like the pub where we went.

The drive back home was beautiful, with the newly fallen snow decorating the trees, leaving a sparkling, crystaline landscape.

And so the day went. I imagine tomorrow will be different, but a good day, too. Life is filled with simple pleasures. What a joy to be able to get up in the morning without pain. To be able to see. To be able to walk. To have a beautiful, loving wife. To be able to hear. To be able to enjoy a simple meal.

How does that Casey At The Bat line go... "There's no joy in Mudville tonight?" Well, there's some joy in Mudcat tonight.

Anyone else see the beauty all around us, and feel thankful for it? I'm thankful for Bobert, and Khandu, and Leadfingers, and Noreen, and jimmyt, and Col K, and Jeanie, and Sian and Sorcha, and Katlaughing. And Songs2play, and Miken, and Allan C, and Sussex Carole and Burl, and.... too many of you to list.

"How many good times are taken for granted, and only remembered when they've passed away?"

Howzabout you?

Jerry