Recognizing the Gift
Awoke on Thanksgiving Day to the gentle prodding of dogs, their noses intent on bringing me in to a new day. At 16 degrees my footsteps on frozen ground and over patches of snow and ice felt almost warm due to the dazzling sunlight cresting the horizon at sunrise. As the dogs raced through the garden I said to myself, “Thank you for giving me another day.”
Thanksgiving Vespa Ride
Finding myself still warm after 20 minutes of wandering in the garden with the dogs, throwing the occasional tennis ball, the thoughts of going for a Vespa ride on Thanksgiving began to surface.
A I walked I thought about the things for which I am thankful, simple things like sunshine, a roof over my head, clothes on my back, food in my stomach, family and friends, money in my pocket, a modicum of health, and perhaps most important of all, the mental and spiritual capacity to appreciate what I have and discern darkness from light.
It takes time to gear up for riding at 16F. There’s a fair bit of stumbling as I search out all the right pieces — balaclava, wind-breaking jacket liner, wiring for the electric gloves. And of course everything is in the garage and feels frozen to the touch. But when I’m finally on the road, protected from the icy stab of the air, I’m grateful to be out on the road.
Glittering Sunlight
The sun was blazing, the light brilliant as I stood squinting along the road with an icy camera in my hands. For a moment things felt clear and simple in what can often feel a noisy and complicated life. I’m not sure if it was the cold, the ride or the sunshine that provided the insight.
On Into Thanksgiving
For a moment I had a fleeting thought to ride to a coffee shop for a hot drink and a few minutes with my journal but a quick survey on my iPhone showed everything near to be closed. So I would make tea at home and share the quiet with Kim and the dogs.
Junior takes a position at my feet, an eye on me, another on the world through the breezeway door as I sit in the rocker and scribble notes on gratitude and thanks.
Later in the day we joined friends for dinner and had the opportunity to meet a guest, a retired MaryKnoll priest who had spent his life on missions in Asia and Africa. Listening to his experience helped frame how much I do have for which to be thankful.
And he had a few good Vespa stories from his time in Malaysia. A fine way to spend Thanksgiving evening — sitting by a warm fire on a cold day and talk about riding Vespa scooters…
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Good post on what one should be thinking of on Thanksgiving Day….focusing on the negatives usually accomplishes nothing but bringing yourself down. The sun’s rays always do make one feel warmer during cold rides….one can feel the difference when the ride takes one into shaded areas…it’s like walking into a large fridge before one emerges back into the warm embrace of the sun.
I’ve come to realize as I get older that I’m in a slow process of losing things. It’s easy to focus on those losses and miss out on what really matters that’s right in front of me. So I try to pay attention to what’s good today.
Sunshine on a cold day is a little miracle. It’s a lot easier to recognize when you’re outside doing something than curled up at home in a warm house.
“O give thanks unto the LORD for He is good and His mercy endures forever.”
Psalm 107 verse 1. A popular prayer at Thanksgiving.
Yes, thankful for the sunny, cool day with clear roads. Our temperature was about the same but the icy roads had a layer of fresh snow. Actually, very nice riding day….
Very nice reminder to be thankful and not focus on what you don’t like.
It rose to 30F this afternoon. Balmy by your Alaskan standards.
Hi Steve,
Len here,
what a wonderful lovely day.
Being grateful of the simple things is key to life I think, your pictures are magic and really fit your words very well.
Keep riding the Vespa and being happy with what life brings.
all the best from a quite yet regular reader of SITS
regards LEN
Thank you for the kind words regarding the pictures I make. They are the offspring of a labor of love — of riding the Vespa and photography. It’s easy to find good things in the midst of joy.
Right now as I write the wind is banging a bird feeder against the window. I’ll have to venture out into the cold to remove it and at just after midnight it’s an adventure I don’t relish. Sort of the way I’ve been feeling about venturing into the cold with the scooter!
Best wishes to you and yours Len.
Even at this late date, I am thankful for your lovely post and reminder!
Thank you!
Be grateful for your play time with the dogs. Two weeks ago I had to put down my beautiful Black Lab. A cancer, similar to the one that took my late wife three years ago, took my faithful dog from me. I still have my two Yorkies but they are not fetchers and revel in lying in their beds instead of chasing balls. I’m only comforted by knowing she lived a happy life and didn’t suffer too much pain. Like all Labs she was full of energy to the end and her ashes are in an attractive box in my living room.
So sorry to hear the news of your dog. They life such fast lives. I’ll throw some tennis balls in remembrance of your dog.
My two love to chase balls and play. I spend a lot of time with them but it will never be enough.