Fortunate

The dictionary defines fortunate as having good fortune; receiving good from uncertain or unexpected sources; lucky.  After this past year I would think that to say I'm fortunate would be an understatement.

With winter setting in and the holidays approaching it's once again time to reflect on our past, ponder the future, and celebrate everything that we have.  And for those of you who know me and know that I rarely talk this way, let it be clear that I truly mean this and it's not some she-she line that I stole from another writer.  Many things from this past year have me feeling extremely grateful for everything that I have.

My Father.

With every day that we grow older we realize that one day our time will come.  And I've always feared those telephone calls at unheard of hours of the morning, knowing it can't mean anything but trouble.  That call came a few months ago and shook me straight to my core.  "He's in the hospital" I was told, "Get there quick".

A stroke and a heart attack could have very easily taken him from us this year but despite the severity of his illness it proved not to be his time as he pulled through it much better than I anticipated.  With only small deficits left over from his experience he's got a new lease on life, and although he doesn't drive that well he's pretty much all intact.  Honestly, I don't think he could drive well to begin with but please don't tell him I said that.  In the end I couldn't be more thankful since in my line of work I see too many people go through this with much different consequences.  Frankly, on that car ride in to the hospital that morning I was prepared to write off who he once was but through his determination and a little help from the big guy upstairs it looks like he'll be sticking around a while longer.

Livelihood

Job, home, food, and clothing, we still have them all and I wake up thankful every day for it.  It seems like everyone around me is losing something in these trying times.  Their job, retirement funds, homes, their sanity!  With this economy being a mere shell of what it was eighteen months ago it's a wonder anyone has a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of.

Of my two jobs, I seriously thought that one would be affected more than it has.  It's a safe bet to say that working on a rescue squad has its benefits since we'll always have sick people to deal with.  But auto racing? that's just disposable income and we all know that in hard times these are the areas that are first in line for cut-backs.  On the contrary, we planned and followed through with an expansion of our building when most companies were closing their doors.  It's a good thing for us that people will still do anything for their toys.  It's because of them that I can still put food on our table.  If I could thank each and every one of you I would.

Family

This could very easily have fallen under livelihood since I'd be absolutely lost without them.  And without my wife in particular, everything I said about having a roof over my head would be a moot point.  If I didn't have her to constantly make me aware of the fact that I don't take home a half million dollars a year, I'd more than likely spend every dime I made.  Yes boys I'm the spender in the family, not my significant other as the stereotype often goes.

I've got plenty to be thankful for when it comes to my children.  Even though my daughter has reached her teens and my son has begun driving I've still managed to keep my sanity, teach them what I can, love them unconditionally, and get a few hours of sleep each night.  Soon when they're both totally mobile I'll probably see next to nothing of them and then in an instant, they'll be gone.  It's going to happen sooner than I ever imagined and as lost as I'll feel without them, I'll be grateful for every waking moment I had with them.

The moral of this story is more than just some cliche' phrase.  Never underestimate what you have.  This should be something that you realize every single day of your life and not just during the holidays.  You may not have a big new house, a car, or money.  You may not even have a large circle of friends.  But if you have family, you have everything you'll ever need.  I've always told my kids that friends are important, but especially in their young lives friends will come and go like the seasons.  At the end of the day, your family will always be there for you. 

But there are plenty of people out there who have no family, and for individuals as fortunate as us this is something that is heartbreaking to even imagine.  whether their family members have passed away or parted ways, there are plenty of folks out there who are alone.  I met one such person recently and it was both a somber experience and as odd as it sounds, very gratifying for me.

While working on the rescue squad this past weekend, we responded to an elderly man who had fallen in his home.  His injuries didn't appear to be life threatening, but he was a bit shaken up and agreed to go to the hospital to be looked at.  While en route with a patient we always strike up friendly conversations to help pass the time.  And being close to Christmas, the ice breaker for this shift was whether or not your shopping was done and if you were ready for the holidays.  "As ready as I'll ever be" he quietly replied.  I went on to ask if it was going to be a large gathering or something small, and if he had to travel or if he was hosting the event.  "Nope, just me" he said.  "My friends have all passed away and aside from my daughter in Florida, I have no one else".  Not seeing the forest for the trees, I kept up with the conversation until it awkwardly became clear to me that his daughter hasn't spoken to him in many years.  This revelation was sad in itself but being one week from Christmas it made his situation that much harder to grasp.  Christmas is so profoundly family oriented and here's someone who is going to spend it alone.  When he has family no less!

I was deeply affected by this guy and his situation for days and it wasn't until I began writing this article that I realized he had given me a gift.  He had opened my eyes and put everything in perspective for me.  Never again will I take for granted what I have and the relationships that I keep with others.  And though I have no clue why his relationship with his daughter got to where it is, nor am I implying that he was of any fault, I am going to try even harder at being the best husband, father, and friend that I can.  Petty instances between my own daughter and I have escalated to unhealthy levels before and maybe this old timer was a ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Not if I can help it.