I noticed something this morning. Well, I actually notice it a lot these days in this season of life. I’m sure others my age have noticed, too. I was walking in to the office, and the 20-30 somethings dressed in their business attire and business casual looked straight ahead and made no eye contact, or they looked straight down at their devices in their hands. There was no “Good morning.”

Only the silver streaked-creased forehead-crows feet-out-of-style-lived-lifers offer a smile or greeting.  Or the occasional rug rat accompanying their don’t-make-eye-contact parents to work and who haven’t learned the ways of this new age world.

At least, that’s the way it is in this corner of the woods.

I’ve had a more difficult time writing gratefuls lately. It’s not that I am not grateful. I’m busy and do not take the time. And I’m doubting myself. And I’m burdened with worry. And I sometimes wonder if it matters.

And then last Friday happens. And the essays and diatribes begin about closing our borders and the blame flies. And fear and sadness invade.

And I am reminded that it does matter. So, my grateful today is this writing by a friend I will never meet, a sister in spirit who thinks just like me:

When you want to live love large in a world with terrorists: a movement of giftivists

Today, make eye contact. Smile at the 20-30 somethings. Be the first to speak a kindness. Refuse to spread hatred and fear.

Just sayin’.

It’s pretty funny how “just sayin’” has become an ending to random thoughts.

My gratefuls are fairly random thoughts more often than not. It’s just that my mind is swimming, as a woman’s mind tends to do, and I rarely have long stretches of time to formulate ONE thought into a detailed acknowledgment of my thanks. So, random thoughts they are…while I’m swimming.

I am grateful for people in my life, even ones I do not know personally but observe from a distance, who reach out and touch and bless others because it is the right thing to do. Because God has called them to something beyond themselves. Three of them brought tears to my eyes this morning. They don’t really know me, but they blessed me today, and my day has been easier because of them.

I am grateful for a young man named Austin who needed some community service time for his leadership class in middle school and just showed up at the assisted living facility where I volunteer to help out with dinner one night, and then realized it was Bingo time and stayed to help me call numbers. And that’s all fine and dandy and good for him to score some points for community service, but then, he returned on Tuesday night just because. Just because he saw a group of elderly people who desire nothing more than time and attention, and he saw a place to serve.

I am grateful for Sam, because his hours are filled with work and projects, but he takes the time to go to Bingo and give a little love to Betty and Jim and Avis and Louene and Cindy and Ruth and Ken…and me. And he takes the time to help someone who is in the middle of a traumatic and life-changing move, because it’s the right thing to do, and because his heart is as big as Dallas.

I am grateful for Tequila Harry’s. It’s a little restaurant in our neighborhood that my Dad thought was a bar. It has a bar in it, but most restaurants do these days. This is the kind of place that is like Cheers, and if we keep going every week, I’m sure one of these days when we walk in, we’re going to hear a rousing, “Sam!” from the regulars. But this little place hires the best kids – not kids, really, but young men and women. Every week when we go for our taco and burrito dinner, we end up having the BEST waiter or waitress. They are attentive, they are friendly, they are prompt, and they each have a story willing to share with us. These kids all attend college full time. They work to pay their way. They have dreams and aspirations. And they serve us. So I am grateful for each one of them, willing to work hard and share a little of themselves with this middle-aged couple.

Speaking of serving, I am grateful for Ivory. He can be found at McDonalds, sweeping and mopping, wiping down tables, hosing down the parking lot, taking out trash, or quietly sharing his incredible life story in snippets to anyone willing to stop and visit and ask his details. He began his career at the young age of six, picking cotton in Mississippi. At the spry age of 76, he loves his job at McDonalds. I would too, if I had to pick cotton at the age of six. I think I would love a job at McDonalds anyway, but especially if I had to pick cotton first. I am grateful that Ivory chooses to serve in this way, because he touches lives and does so without fanfare.

And last, I am grateful for the bites of celery I had mid-morning to keep me from eating Cheezits.

I went to a shoe store at lunch. It was AWFUL. Makes me nauseous and bitter. I am grateful that my shoes still work so that I don’t have to spend time there.

I am grateful for socks. Dry socks. Socks do not make me nauseous and bitter. I could shop for them all the day long.

I am grateful for the interesting shapes of leaves that cover the sidewalk right now.

I am grateful for the feel of a paring knife cutting into a crisp apple.

I am grateful for CASA inservice discussions that are enlightening even if a little depressing. These discussions remind me to be very grateful for the living conditions that my grandchildren have, for my CASA child and her beautiful foster family, and for the naiveté and shelter that I have lived under all these years. I am also grateful for the opportunity to serve with this organization that exists to protect children.

And I am grateful for the pleasure of seeings dog ears flapping in the breeze as they hang out the window.

So I am grateful that a few of them were cleaned out this weekend and organization is restored.

I am grateful for approximately 40 books wrapped for Christmas.

I am grateful for the sound of a little boy saying, “I wanna sit by Rhonda,” at The Peanuts Movie and then hearing him laugh loud for the next hour and a half.

I am grateful for those three little boys – my selfish “ticket” to Friday evening at the movie.

I am grateful for hot cocoa foam on top.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. – Philippians 4:8 (The Message)

I am grateful for a dirty dust rag, a sign of productivity.

I am grateful for a lawn mow in November so that there will be fewer leaves to rake.

I am grateful for a drive without radio.

I am grateful for sunbeams in the kitchen.

I am grateful for long phone calls with Karissa and Katrina.

I am grateful for Sunday messages that make me re-evaluate and spark conviction.

I am grateful for the students in my life right now. I love hugs from Grace and Albert and kind words from Anna and walking with Fabien and seeing Sophia.

I am grateful for breakfast with my CASA girl.

And I am grateful for this past week of refrain. It has forced me to reflect on motive, on priority, on the negative words and thoughts that permeate.

I don’t got it today.

So, because I need to do this when I feel it and even when I don’t got it:

1. I am grateful for the wisdom and comfort of Psalm 27.
2. I am grateful for a busy evening, even though I would like to not be busy.
3. I am grateful for disappointment because I’m sure it will teach me something.
4. I am grateful for a little afternoon snack that I will not touch since it smells of Chantilly perfume, but it makes me smile:

Thank you, Delores, for my inedible snack that brings a smile. It is a permanent fixture underneath my computer monitor.

But I am grateful that I cannot feel my face, because it means that a cavity has been filled and mouth is once again semi-healthy. I do not recommend cavities however, in the front teeth, or anywhere for that matter. How many times have I bitten my lip while biting into that taco… Is bitten a word?

I am grateful that I am sleep-deprived, because it means that Michelle came to visit and talked into the morning after midnight, and it also means that the next night, the Royals decided to win Game 1 of the World Series in the 14^th inning. Eye toothpicks are needed, but a bitten lip/lip bitten will have to do.

I am grateful that I am broke, because it means that I have stacks of books ready to wrap for grandchildren Christmas, Bingo prizes continue to flow on Tuesday nights, the furnace was able to be used last night for the first time this season since bills are paid, and I am blessed with a dead face for a little while in order to bite my lip while eating a crunchy taco.

I am grateful that I have no time to do anything, because it means that I have filled my time with lots of activity which means that I am not bored.

I am grateful that I am overweight, because it means that I am enjoying crunchy tacos and macaroni and cheese and chocolate anything and have decided that I am who I am.

I am grateful that I live far away from family, because it means that when I DO get to see them, it is that much better, like seeing Cindi, Greg, and Doug, and then Delores and Dwight and Marlene, and then Danny and Glenda, and then Michelle. That much better it is.

I am grateful that we were late to church, because it means that we were surprised to see Danny and Glenda walking in at the same time and that led to sitting with my cousin in church and then having breakfast with them afterwards.

I am grateful that I won’t be able to sit on the couch on Friday night and watch the Royals play, because it means that we will be overnighting with our small group in the Flint Hills.

And I am grateful that I can no longer relax on Thursday evenings after my CASA visit, because it means that I will now be a member of choir at church and I will once again be privileged to play the piano on a regular basis.

This voice came out of the little black box under the menu sign, the same words asked every time my car pulls into the drive through line at this chain of taco stores here in Kansas City.

Every time. And the voice always baffles me. There’s no, “Welcome to Taco Store, what would you like today?” Or, “May I take your order?” It’s always, “How are you?”

Just once, I want to have the courage to say,

“Ya know, I am not really doing that great, because last night I broke a glass when I was emptying the dishwasher, and I ran out of toothpaste and that REALLY stinks when that happens, and I wasn’t able to get ahold of my daughter when I tried calling her, and I’d love to figure out why my boss is so irritating, but it’s okay, because she’s out of the office for the next few days, so we’re all easing up on the workload and taking it easy, which is good because I’m not really doing that great, but hopefully the Royals will make everything better by winning tonight. Thanks for asking and how are YOU doing?”

But I always say,

“Fine, one crunchy taco.”

Today, however, I’d LOVE to pull up to that little black box, armed with this:

“I’m so fine today you wouldn’t believe it! Did you watch that game last night?! Because if you did, you’d be so fine today too! I’m so fine because that Royals team was pure entertainment last night. Did you see Davis and Perez hugging after that last pitch?! That made me cry! And Davis smiled bigger than Dallas!! Did you see Cain fly around the bases?! Did you see Ventura so focused and that infield defense?! And oh my word, Jirschele makes me laugh I think he’s gonna do damage to that shoulder with his huge arm swings when he sends runners home. I’m so fine today, thank you for asking, because our Royals were not a fluke and they are going to the World Series AGAIN! It’s a great day to live in Kansas City and eat tacos, which, by the way, I’d like one crunchy taco, please, and thank you for asking how I am today. I AM MIGHTY FINE.

Pretty sure that taco store employee is grateful without even knowing it, that I am not craving a crunchy taco today.

Waiting in the long line winding through Mardel, seeing every. little. thing. that would be perfect for Jayme, Tatum, Parker, Anissa, Reilly, Andrae, Annistan, Anjalie, Andersyn, and BettyJo. Nice marketing ploy, Mardel.

Good thing I wore boots with heels today so I could put my old cell phone up really high and try to get a picture of the candidate walking through the door. Got him. Magnifying glasses needed, but got him.

Success! And I got to shake his hand, and he was as handsome in person as on the cover of his book. And very genuine, for the 5 1/2 seconds of our relationship.

Dad declined a picture by the bus, but it was quite an experience, and we can both now say we met our first Presidential candidate, and we have both now had the pleasure of standing in a long line for 5 1/2…okay, 3 1/2 seconds of encounter with brilliance. It was hard work, but we persevered, and we still have faith in God. Living that dream…

And I came out’a the store with more than just a signed copy of Dr. Carson’s book. A few more Christmas presents for the tribe of grandchildren, thanks to that great marketing ploy.

So, I am grateful for another new experience.
I am grateful for my Dad who is kinda a fan of Ben Carson, and I can see why.
I am grateful that Dad wanted to go do this, because I wouldn’t have taken the time, otherwise.
I am grateful for Mardel, if only I could win the lottery.
And I am grateful for a new choice, a very nice choice, a choice who hasn’t raised his voice or resorted to name-calling, who is offering hope in his message. I could be on board for Ben…

I am grateful for clean teeth and the best dentist office in the history of the world.

I am grateful for a new electric toothbrush.

I am grateful for local businesses who spend the money to advertise via bulk/junk mail, because without that shiny card, I may never have found my best dentist office in the history of the world.

I am grateful for chicken fried rice to eat when I am tooth sensitive.

I am grateful for chance meetings at garage sales.

I am grateful for offers accepted.

I am grateful for business entrepreneurs who still go door-to-door and knock for leads, because if my new financial advisor had not done so, Dad would not have opened that door and met him, and I would not have been introduced to him via Dad’s impression of a really great guy.

I am grateful that in this season of life, even though I still make stupid decisions regarding money, I am making less of them and have begun a plan to grow some finances and think about the future. It’s never too late to start.

I am grateful that my husband does laundry and dishes and makes the bed every day and likes a clean vehicle always and teaches me how to use tools and says “thank you” and “I’m sorry” and lives and gives grace to everyone he knows.

I am grateful for post season baseball.

Clarified: I am grateful for post season baseball that includes the Kansas City Royals.

I am grateful that yesterday was just a game, but boy oh boy, was it a good one.

And I am grateful that I live in this city that loves their team.

Dust if you must, but there’s
not much time,
with rivers to swim and
mountains to climb,
music to hear and books to read,
friends to cherish and life to lead.

I am grateful for the masterpiece, the Master’s piece, that awaits just outside the window or the door – fall color that is everywhere I look.

I am grateful that I work in the woods and am privileged enough to enjoy the gorgeous of fall.

I am grateful for those who work for landscape companies, the men and women who work from before the sun until after the sun, in order to care for this Master’s piece.

I am grateful that, as Dad says, “It’s just a game.”

I am grateful for an almost yellow banana this morning. Thank you, Sam. You chose a perfect bunch.

And I am grateful for Bingo day and grateful that I got paid yesterday so that I can go and get Bingo prizes at lunch.