I am so Thankful, today... actually always...

I am a very alone man. I seem to only dance with my wife, which I like to do and mostly I just sit in the back or a corner and watch the world go by me. Reading what one of my constant readers wrote to me about something he and I don't see eye to eye upon (why I don't know but I do like to receive email) -- anyway, I lost my focus on Thanksgiving and trying to write something happy about what I am happy for...

Now, I am thankful for a closer walk with God, that my loving wife hasn't changed and still depends upon me and wants me to do better, I am thankful my son and his family are growing and doing so much better than predicted, I am very thankful that my world and all that I see are so much better than what the current noisy (if not dominant) culture project upon me daily, that I have a waterproof roof over my head, that the power and utilities are working, and that I have more than enough and am willing to share. Those aren't unusual enough to blog about --- but Lord those are wonderful, really wonderful. Thank Thee, Lord, Amen.

But I wanted to write about three hugs. I don't understand hugs, am trying to get nicer about accepting them, and will never give them away as well as the receiver deserves. See, hugs aren't a real Man thing, or so I grew up believing. You do understand that I have been wrong before?

I was giving a lady an award for shooting Rifleman, just a patch to wear proudly, and said something about real Riflemen don't cry and suddenly she hugged me - WOW! panic Earl! where did that come from? But she was really happy and I was too close. That taught me to stay farther away from emotional women, but that it was okay to be part of a joyous celebration of achievement. Too many times it was easy to discount victory as 'so what'. Thanks, Heather, you don't remember it but I will never forget.

I went on my tour of the United States on the Trusty Triumph, and met many fine people, many of them relatives and had a great time and little adventures. Then I went to a blog meet in Indianapolis, with all those famous and more bloggers I didn't know very well. I couldn't talk to them all, and I am not very outgoing so I kind of watched, see above, and one blogger I read a lot, took time to come over and welcome me, just to see how tongue-tied I could be maybe. But I got a real hug from her, and it stuck longer than whatever we had said to each other, at least in my mind. But she has a big black dog, so she understands how to give hugs. Thanks!

I don't do parties well, my wanting to drink too much alcohol was left far behind in my youth - but it is nice to see old co-workers and see how they are doing and wishing them well in their future. So I sat and took pictures and talked and as one of the library ladies was getting ready to call it a night, she gave me a hug. I figured that had to be because I was a tired old retired guy that didn't have long left... or she just saw that I needed a hug... or that it was just part of her way, I will give it the last, she is a well adjusted person.

Yeah, I could get used to being an adopted Great Uncle, a big teddy bear of a old grump, a target of a fond demonstrations of affection. So for today, I will add those three hugs to my list of things I am REALLY thankful for... I am also thankful that I got to give my mother a few more of the hugs, I hadn't all those years I was too much a Man to need, that she could never have gotten enough of in her final years. I can't tell you if it is really better to give than receive - but share the love, folks, and those unexpected ones -- they are the best.