Happy Thanksgiving from Amelia, Inc.

Things I am thankful for:

1. Not living in Ferguson, MO
2. Having a dog that appreciates my cooking
3. For the birds that had to give up their feathers for my down coat that keeps me warm here in Chiberia. 
4. For the puny 17-year old in a puny black Chevy, who tried to race me today leaving Trade Joe’s parking lot.
5. For the darkened windows so that the 17-year old couldn’t see that he was racing with a middle age woman in fleece pants and slippers.
6. For the pop-musicians teaching my kids how important it is to appreciate your own body. Especially the rear end has gotten a lot of attention lately.
7. For my health insurance company making any shopping of Christmas presents impossible = Less stress. They just informed me that my doctor isn’t part of their network, so I have to pay the invoice at 100%.
8. For the neighbor who reminds me of warmer days by mowing his lawn even now when the grass is frozen. 
9. For that same neighbor to have given me a fantastic business idea about electric leaf blowers: Apparently the leaves in his yard need to be blown every day, several times a day, especially early in the morning.
10. For my health club membership, so that I can truly appreciate what plastic surgery can do these days, and showing me that yes, one can work out in a sauna.
11. For all the people working in the health care industry that walk into coffee shops, restaurants and grocery stores wearing their scrubs. It has really relieved my germ phobia. Hey…..that’s not blood on your shirt there, is it? Oh, just vomit, no problem.
12. For not having to get a job in Central Africa right now.
13. For Costco shopping carts. They are just so huge that it really makes me realize how small I am in this vast universe of consumption. 
14. For the turkey being organic and humanely raised.
15. For the fact that a lot of people have finally realized that hormones, antibiotics, mistreating animals, pesticides, chemical fertilizers, artificial colors, artificial flavors and toxic preservatives should not be on our menus. Do we really need to support a system that makes us all sick? Too expensive? What kind of price tag do you put on your own health, to salvaging whatever is left of this beutiful planet of ours for your kids, your grandkids and the generations to come?