HALFWAY HOME: TUSEN TAKK!

365 Days of Thanksliving – Day 182

I had every intention of writing about something completely different today. But ya know, maybe this snarky old fart can include that too—this is my blog, after all. (This is me sticking my tongue out at you again—just like I did to Jenn today at church). Sorry, Jenn!

So… or sewwwwww as they’d say in Ohio, with a long, drawn-out, nasally ooohhhh, like they're from SoCal or something—last night I just couldn’t get comfy in bed. It doesn’t help when 140 lbs of canine space heaters are taking up over half the bed (if not more). My mutts? They’d never make it on the streets; me neither, for that reason. Squirrel….

So, back to last night. (I do this like every day, don’t I? I gotta keep ya on your toes). Squirrel…..

Sewwwwwww…. There I was, tossing and turning, pushing and shoving the two large sacks of potatoes lying between the wifey and me. They’d made like corpses and gone all rigor mortis and stuff. And, as though invoking my my inner woman (do we men have those), I started feeling like I was having hot flashes. Covers off. Covers on. Out of bed. Back in again.

Finally, the Popeye within me couldn’t takes it no mores, and I got up and opened the windows in the bedroom. And just like that—woosh. The cool evening breeze blew on in as though it was the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Now, while I didn’t see flames of fire rest on my head, nor did I start speaking in tongues, I’m pretty sure I zonked out quickly after that and probably started making noises from my mouth that sounded like an intelligible, angelic language. That cool breeze was just what I needed. Thank goodness for that airflow, too, because I had to get up and preach and all that… I think that cool breeze put a pep in my step this morning.

Once I was up, I opened ALL the windows in the house, making sure I kept the shades shut. Because, ain’t NO ONE wanna see a half-naked 57-year-old man walking through the house with a towel wrapped around his midriff (or his wife, for that matter). Hahaha. I shut off the A/C and let nature do its thang. So wonderful.

Being that it was still nice and cool halfway through the day, I just kept the windows open, and that’s when I smelled it: that crisp, clean rain—nature’s air freshener that just invigorated the whole house. Methinks I’ll just keep them open throughout the night, leading into Day No. 183.

And that brings me to the OG reason for this post—well, after the rain, that is. Check out the blog post number. Today is No. 182; we’re halfway through this daily excursion. Can you believe it?

While I’ve had a few topics that seem to be on repeat, many of the posts are unique—like tonight’s. And about that, while I couldn't have just written “I’m halfway through…,” that would’ve been disingenuous. You—my readers—are a part of this process.

YOU are keeping me going. YOU continue to inspire me, sometimes providing the daily reason to give thanks. And for you, I have the Lord to thank.

Sewwwww…. Today, I’m saying “tusen takk” (a thousand thanks) to the Lord: for the rain; for nature’s A/C; for the pep in my step this morning; for Gus Gus and Arlo, who love us enough to wanna cuddle all night; for the Lord inspiring me through this journey; and most importantly, for you.

You’ve helped make it halfway.

And, ya know, I suppose I could be a bit nice and even be grateful for my friends in Ohio, who make me snicker because honestly, they sound like a bunch of valley girls every time they say “so.”

Sewwwwww…. With that, what are you thankful for today?