THE MYSTERIES OF THANKFULNESS
Two of the most important words in the English language are "thank you." In some other languages the message is expressed as "arigato, merci beaucoup, danke schoen, gracias and so on.
Many of us “Give Thanks” for various events or situations in our lives that enjoy favorable outcomes. One can derive all sorts of curious benefits when we ‘thank you’. For example if you happen to occasionally accumulate a dirty car with all sorts of debris on the inside, you could say ‘thank you’ for this mess because it implies that at least you own an automobile and enjoy the convenient transportation it provides.
Students could say 'thank you' for all this endless homework for that means you are in school, perhaps a very good school with an outstanding faculty, all the coaching you want and can look forward to very successful and productive lives with all of your faculties in order.
A farmer could say ‘thank you’ for all these weeds and all these hungry insects and pests and for the outrageous PG&E electric bill for the pumps that produce the water. It really means that you actually own the fertile and productive land and enjoy the options for its use that provides the highest standard of living.
Real estate brokers say ‘thank you’ for all the trauma of having too often to deal with unscrupulous dog eat dog clients and opposing brokers. For lacking these conditions they would be out of work. It also means they have passed the tests to be licensed and can legitimately claim to own 6% of every building in town and the vacant land out of town....all they have to do is find a buyer because everything is for sale.
Pilots say ‘thank you’ for the FAA and Air Traffic Control and bad weather. Thankfully they are scrupulously trained, licensed and are physically qualified for the joy of firewalling the throttles, surging at a high angle of attack into the heavens above leaving the weather below and having a ball doing it.
Decorators ‘give thanks’ for the myriad of fabrics to choose from, color schemes to coordinate, homes to organize with paint, wall paper, floor coverings, furniture, clients who have bizarre tastes to usher through decorator show cases. So they can celebrate the glory of a meticulous education and excitement of spending other people's money and charging a fair fee.
Housewives and working mothers ‘give thanks’ for an elaborate menu of blessings including skills in arbitration, budgeting, teaching, homemaking, home maintenance, menu planning, being chauffeurs, soccer moms, serving on school committees and boards and organizing such events as Thanksgiving Dinner for 17. All of this proves they live full lives, waste little time, enjoy the children and grandchildren grow and excel and watch over their pets when they are gone.
And as for automobile technicians, they ‘give thanks’ for incompetent service writers and defective electronics for without both, they would be like the Maytag repair staff, looking around for something to do, and getting bored with life. As it is, they witness the joy of seeing the customer drive off in his Swiss Watch machine lubed and tuned.
And your Club President gives thanks to the Club membership for forgiving a preoccupation at the podium with "Paul" (would that be Paul Harris?) as he inducts returning member Paul (Todd) Sorensen into the Club. Welcome back Todd!
So with those thoughts to mull over during dinner, it is time for the gong and to say Happy Thanksgiving. *
And speaking of thanks, many thanks to Nian Roberts for his contributions in recognition of his and Nancy's 60th wedding anniversary, as so prominently displayed on the AT & T Park electronic screen for thousands to view and applaud, to Joe Wojciechowski, (with Rita's support) in recognition of his Paul Harris Fellow and all that you do, Joe, for the Club!
Enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving, strive for your summits!
Ken Noack, Jr.
* Source Unknown