Reality is not a total stranger

but that doesn't mean it's always welcome. When vehicle wouldn't start, got road service and took the little darling to a garage for check up.

Mechanical things require care--maintenance is important. Hate spending the money; but must admit it's better than walking. AND in this little part of the world, you have your own wheels or you walk.

Have lived in towns with public transportation; felt that riding the bus was fine. There are limitations, routes and schedules and such; but you can get where you need to go. AND you don't have to own the bus. AND you shouldn't invest more than fare in the bus company--more on that at a later time.

SO I'm griping about something pretty insignificant; I long ago accepted the standard of car, suburban home, pay all the freight. I manage to keep a car and a place to live and can't describe myself as burdened even if I feel as if I'm just getting by; guess I think there should be choices.

There's that choice thing again. In an earlier life (believe me, it was light years away and in a different galaxy), I had few choices and managed. Poverty and responsibility, albeit contraindicated, seem to occur together a lot. AND there I was, post marriage, parenting and broke. Anything was up from there.

Those years were characterized by challenges, things I couldn't always manage well, but as one of the children said, "We lived." We knew there were things we couldn't do and couldn't have; gave us a lot to look forward to.

Used to amaze me the things people could find to gripe about. AND I thought of some folk I encountered as petty and spoiled; they had housing, food, transportation and some of life's nice things, maybe even some security and pleasure; but there was always something else they wanted.

I was not going to assume that attitude because I understood not having things--well, here I am middle class up to my eyeballs and griping about inconveniences. Waaah waah waah.

IF there's a point here, maybe it's about priorities and perspective. From my religious training, I believe I should practice thanksgiving, whether I feel like it or not. BUT, like a character from House, MD said, "You know, it is possible to believe in something and fail to live up to it." And that's the truth.