Thanksgiving

Last night Hart and I both had trouble sleeping, it was cold and rainy, and our holiday park was a giant mud pit with lots of puddles. Yesterday the showers were so miserably cold that we anticipated today's showers eagerly. Hart went first, only to come back with the news that the water never got warm. We planned to take a guided climb on Fox Glacier today or Hart would take a helicopter flight over the glaciers while I stayed hiked. I couldn't fathom climbing on ice while being pelted by fat raindrops, so I vetoed that plan, and the visibility was so low that no operators were flying. Simply put, we were both grumbling and didn't think we'd get to see what we wanted to see.

We complained for a few minutes and formulated alternative plans. I ask Hart what day it was and remembered that it was Thanksgiving. That was enough to give us some perspective. We both quit moaning about our no good very bad day and realized how much we have to be greatful for. I'm not sure if it is being out of the country and away from our family and friends or that the precarious balance between life and death has been demonstrated to me all too clearly this year, but I am extremely thankful for the happiness and relatively good health of all of you.

(Sorry if I've gone Hallmark on you, but sometimes these things need to be said!)