Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Giving Thanks…..



By Sandi Howland Archer

I do most of my thinking in the middle of the night. Too often I find myself wide awake at about 2 a.m. and that’s when the random thoughts bounce around. I know, I know…there are pills for that. But I rather like having that peaceful time to process what might be otherwise lost in the hustle and bustle of a busy day. And so it was again last night. Wide awake and thinking about all that I have to be genuinely thankful for. No surprise that my thoughts quickly brought me back to my childhood in Clearfield.

Brutally cold mornings in an old house with no insulation. Heated with coal that was delivered by Ryan Bros Coal Company thru a shoot directly into the coal bin. The flue ran through the bathroom (not 1¾ baths!) that was most definitely the coziest spot in the house. Always thankful for my turn.

For the most part, we were respectful to our teachers. Didn’t really have much choice if we had any smarts at all. Disregard for authority would result in a well placed paddle at school followed by a whooping at home. I’m thankful for an early lesson that has made it easy for me to show respect for others. Always. Even when it’s not the easy route.

We didn’t have a list of rules taped to the fridge at home. Ours were implied and we took them seriously. After our homework and chores were finished, we were allowed to play outside. Had to be home for dinner or by dark, whichever came first. Played in the woods behind the playground. Skated in the middle of Daisy Street. Swam in the “six-footer.” I’m thankful for a time long gone when children felt safe.

We weren’t the first folks in town to get a TV. In about 1950 or 52 my family had our house shingled. Supposed to look like red brick. Failed miserably. I don’t recall the name of the hardware store where the shingles were purchased but I do recall that we were given one raffle ticket for each dollar spent. The grand prize was a television.

I recall vividly sitting at the kitchen table with the rest of the family filling out the stubs of all those tickets. I also recall that when the big day came for the drawing, we went to the hardware store and I pulled the winning ticket from a bathtub filled nearly to the top. My sister, Carole, has an equally vivid memory of her pulling the winner. Life changed after that small, snowy TV came into our home. Am I thankful that we finally got a television? Not a chance! I’m most thankful for the wonderful conversations, the fun of playing pick-up-sticks, and the joy of solving a Nancy Drew mystery that were never the same after the monster came into our home.

Goldie. She…or he?...was my first pet. I learned to feed her just the right amount of flaked food. Quickly learned, with some help from my mother, that it’s not OK to clean the fish bowl with the same sponge used for cleaning pots and pans. Thankful that I learned how to love a pet until the very end. Buried her in a pink and white plastic box that once contained a Christmas gift (wallet) for my mother. Buried her under the bush with the huge white flowers. Used popsicle sticks for a cross. 1311 Daisy Street.

Our society has become a transient one. “The grass is greener…” has most definitely hooked us as we move about looking for the perfect house, perfect job, perfect mate, etc. Certainly makes it challenging to maintain friendships as some of us chase that elusive pasture. I’m so very, very thankful for the childhood friends who never gave up on me. I love the flood of warm memories each time I open an email from Bea, Merlyn, Mary, Anna Marie, Rosalie, etc., etc., etc.

This year has been filled with numerous reminders of how very blessed I am. Being able to attend the 50th class reunion is high on my list. That wouldn’t have been possible without the exceptional skills of the emergency responders when I had a stroke. I’m thankful for their immediate response and treatment. I’m thankful for my loving family who will gather for a feast next week followed by board games and hanging Christmas lights (the guys don’t know about hanging the lights). I’m thankful for the continued opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the seriously mentally ill. I’m most thankful for finding Lexxi when I lost her in the Denver airport…. but that’s another story!

An abundance of love and blessings to you and yours,

Sandi