Long Road of Gratitude

It’s not lost on me how lucky I am in so many ways.  Riding the Vespa scooter through the central Pennsylvania landscape provides a quiet space for relaxation and reflection.  And in that space I’m aware that life is good.  For most of it my health has been excellent.  I have a supportive family and friends.  A long career has given way to a comfortable retirement.

Just another day in paradise.

There have been times I’ve tried to convince myself that it’s all a result of my own planning and hard work.  Without a doubt I have planned and worked hard.  But the many things to be grateful for are fragile gifts and could easily have evaporated if not for some large measure of good fortune.

I’ve been thinking about this since learning of fellow scooter rider and blogger Orin O’Neill’s struggle with unfortunate economic circumstances and a need to relocate to a more affordable part of the country.  He’s looking to the wider world for support through a GoFundMe campaign.Continue Reading