Thankful - by Furman Bisher, Jr., 2014
I am thankful to pull into home’s driveway after a 14-hour journey,
or after an excruciating commute.
I am thankful for a good report card, but even more thankful to see my kids fired up by a teacher or subject and really into learning.
I am thankful for the ever-present buzz of my wife around the house, constantly tidying, fixing, cleaning and scolding everything and everyone in this beehive we call home, no matter how much I hate the sound of the vacuum cleaner.
I am thankful for the rare letter in the mail, with a real stamp and a postmark, with words written especially for me, as long as it’s not from a collection agency.
I am thankful for modern porcelain toilets that flush and toilet paper, having passed through a few places where such luxuries are deemed an unnecessary extravagance.
I am thankful that my teenage daughter is not a blushing wall-flower, even though it means an occasional suspension…
I am thankful for a competent and honest mechanic, tax man and doctor, in that order.
I am thankful for my wife’s soothing words and touch after a particularly harrowing day on the cubefarm.
I am grateful for email and Facebook, for letting me find old friends and distant cousins and giving me a glimpse of their lives, and for reassuring us that we are not alone in our problems.
I am thankful for Abuela, who, although penniless, wheelchair-bound and can’t speak English, has always been a better grandmother than the trophy wife who quit being “Grandma” the moment the old man’s heart stopped.
I am thankful for Czech pilsner, tequila reposado, pepitas and scrapple.
I am thankful to hear my children dream out loud about their futures, even if it’s to be a dictator or a backup singer for rapper.
I am thankful when we can pay all of our bills.
I am thankful that my son is a world class driller, even though the world of exhibition military drill is a small thankless one.
I am thankful for our ancestors who worked so hard to position our families for an uncertain future.
I am thankful for real family who share our blood, family trees, and unconditional love, not those vultures whose relationship is no deeper than a dollar bill, an account statement or lawyer’s threatening letter.
I am thankful for zombie shows and movies, which literally bring us together wide-eyed and clutchy on the couch.
I am thankful for the memories of every moment I spent with my daddy, despite his grumpiness, cynicism, arrogance, hypocrisy and other very human foibles…
I am thankful for those golden moments when everyone in my household is happy and full of chatter and laughter.
by James Furman Bisher, Jr.
I am thankful for a good report card, but even more thankful to see my kids fired up by a teacher or subject and really into learning.
I am thankful for the ever-present buzz of my wife around the house, constantly tidying, fixing, cleaning and scolding everything and everyone in this beehive we call home, no matter how much I hate the sound of the vacuum cleaner.
I am thankful for the rare letter in the mail, with a real stamp and a postmark, with words written especially for me, as long as it’s not from a collection agency.
I am thankful for modern porcelain toilets that flush and toilet paper, having passed through a few places where such luxuries are deemed an unnecessary extravagance.
I am thankful that my teenage daughter is not a blushing wall-flower, even though it means an occasional suspension…
I am thankful for a competent and honest mechanic, tax man and doctor, in that order.
I am thankful for my wife’s soothing words and touch after a particularly harrowing day on the cubefarm.
I am grateful for email and Facebook, for letting me find old friends and distant cousins and giving me a glimpse of their lives, and for reassuring us that we are not alone in our problems.
I am thankful for Abuela, who, although penniless, wheelchair-bound and can’t speak English, has always been a better grandmother than the trophy wife who quit being “Grandma” the moment the old man’s heart stopped.
I am thankful for Czech pilsner, tequila reposado, pepitas and scrapple.
I am thankful to hear my children dream out loud about their futures, even if it’s to be a dictator or a backup singer for rapper.
I am thankful when we can pay all of our bills.
I am thankful that my son is a world class driller, even though the world of exhibition military drill is a small thankless one.
I am thankful for our ancestors who worked so hard to position our families for an uncertain future.
I am thankful for real family who share our blood, family trees, and unconditional love, not those vultures whose relationship is no deeper than a dollar bill, an account statement or lawyer’s threatening letter.
I am thankful for zombie shows and movies, which literally bring us together wide-eyed and clutchy on the couch.
I am thankful for the memories of every moment I spent with my daddy, despite his grumpiness, cynicism, arrogance, hypocrisy and other very human foibles…
I am thankful for those golden moments when everyone in my household is happy and full of chatter and laughter.
by James Furman Bisher, Jr.